Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center has transformed its approach to stroke care by launching a new initiative aimed at improving clinical excellence and patient outcomes. The transformation began with a thorough evaluation of the existing stroke program, revealing significant gaps in clinical skills, individualized care, and patient safety — especially in swallow screening to prevent complications like aspiration pneumonia.

To address these issues, Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center established the Medical Surgical Telemetry Unit 4B as its dedicated Stroke Unit, aligning with American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines that recommend specialized units to enhance expertise, teamwork, and care standardization. This move fostered renewed staff dedication and a culture of excellence.

Innovative strategies include the “Ticket to Ride” checklist, implemented during shift changes to ensure clear communication during patient handoff communication. This tool, piloted in July 2025, is continually improved based on staff input, reflecting AHA’s commitment to ongoing quality improvement and frontline involvement.

Patient and family education is emphasized through a multilingual Stroke Medication Flyer and regular follow-up calls by stroke champions, reinforcing the AHA’s focus on informed, proactive patients. The program also incorporates national standards such as centralized care, standardized protocols, continuous quality improvement, multidisciplinary collaboration, and leveraging technology for population management.

By systematically closing care gaps, engaging staff, and prioritizing patient-centered practices, Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center’s stroke program not only meets but strives to exceed national benchmarks, setting a model for stroke care excellence. Special thanks to the clinical nurses that championed the initiative Melissa Myers BSN, RN, Peter Carcamo BSN, RN, TNCC, Jesse Melendres BSN, RN, Kimberly Burke ADN, RN, and Christopher Rodriguez BSN, RN led the initiative.