Central Valley Service Area
A message from Terrie Hemman, MBA-HCM, BSN, RN, CCCM
Director of Nursing and Clinical Practice
In 2024, Central Valley TPMG nurse leaders and nurses demonstrated how they lead with purpose on our journey to nursing excellence. Notably, two of our nurse leaders received recognition at the Extraordinary Nursing Awards. Vickie Her, BSN, RN, the Service Unit Director of Visions Services, Staffing Office, and Float Pool, was honored as The Permanente Medical Group Nurse Leader of the Year. Additionally, Julie Silveria, BSN, RN, the Oncology Nurse Manager, was recognized as one of the Emerging Nurse Leaders of the Year.
Ambulatory nursing relies heavily on teamwork through interdisciplinary practices and connections across the continuum of care. Our focus on improving patient throughput, access, and quality reflects our collaboration and teamwork with leaders and staff across various service lines. Our nurses have worked collectively to enhance workflows, exemplified by initiatives such as Team Alerts, Stroke Alerts, Radiology handoffs, and the ED-to-bed transition. Nurses are encouraged to speak up, sharing their ideas and perspectives, which has allowed us to improve quality and safety.
Moreover, the nurses in the Central Valley exemplify our nursing values of compassion. One of my favorite examples involves a patient who wrote a letter to commend Tiffany Stricklen, an LVN in Urology.
The patient was feeling unwell in the parking lot after the clinic had closed, but Tiffany, having just finished her shift, stopped to help. Recognizing that the patient needed emergent care, Tiffany insisted that she should not attempt to drive home. Instead, she called the patient’s son, who persuaded his mother to let Tiffany call an ambulance. The member was admitted to the hospital with sepsis and credits Tiffany with saving her life. This incident underscores Tiffany’s deep compassion for our members. This incident is just one example of the compassionate care provided by our nurses in the Central Valley. I am proud and honored to be part of such a wonderful team.
Exemplary Professional Practice: Nursing Excellence – Women’s Health Fair
In alignment with our mission to provide high-quality and affordable healthcare services, and to enhance the health of our members and the communities we serve, we held three Women’s Health Fairs. The first fair occurred in Stockton in April, while the October fairs were held in Stockton and Modesto. These events were organized in collaboration with the Women’s Health, Laboratory, Radiology, Dermatology, and Health Education. Nursing and operational leaders collaborated to ensure services offered would be of interest, relevant and available the same day.
The fairs offered access to critical preventive health screenings, including blood pressure checks, diabetes, and diabetic retinal screenings, cervical cancer screenings, mammography, and wellness education. NPs and physicians from Women’s health provided cervical cancer screening. The Dermatology nurses provided skin assessments, product information and promoted healthy skin activities such as adequate water consumption and sunscreen. These screenings are essential for the early detection and intervention of major health issues. The events were a resounding success, with over 150 women attending each fair!
“The care was so respectful, caring and kind and exemplifies the meaning of nursing. I was cared for by a genuine, excellent, compassionate nurse who enjoys their job.”
—Catherine
About Central Valley Service Area
Kaiser Permanente Manteca Medical Center and Modesto Medical Center are recognized as top hospitals in our community and honored for quality, patient safety and advanced medical care by industry and media organizations.
2024 By the Numbers
1,184
Registered nurses
53
Nurses hired
13
Nurse residents hired
10.2%
Average turnover
16%
Board certified nurses
28%
Associate’s degree in nursing
91%
Bachelor’s degree in nursing
16%
Master’s degree in nursing
1%
Doctorate degree in nursing
13
Conference posters & presentations
5
New Caritas Coaches
25
Evidence-Based Practice graduates
Transformational Leadership
Fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability to evolve the way we provide care.
Culture C.R.E.W. (Cultivating Resilience, Engagement, and Well-Being)
Kaiser Permanente’s Central Valley Area (CVA) is committed to strengthening the emotional and intellectual engagement of its workforce, with a focus on transforming workplace culture.
Central Valley Engagement Committee
The Central Valley Service Area continues to broaden and expand our focus on employee engagement as a key driver for employee satisfaction, consumer experience, and overall performance outcomes.
Maternal Child Health: Labor and Delivery employee engagement
In 2023, our Labor and Delivery Unit-Based Council launched a pumpkin decorating contest to enhance employee engagement across all 3 units.
Research and Innovation Academy Conference: A Showcase of Excellence
The inaugural Northern California Research and Innovation Academy (RIA) conference was a landmark event that brought together health care professionals and researchers to share their innovative work and insights.
Celebrating our Central Valley nurses
Through our awards programs, we recognize nurses and care partners who exemplify excellence and provide high-quality, compassionate care to our members and patients.
Professional Governance Coordinating Council: Voice of Nursing (VON)
The Central Valley Service Area continues to broaden and expand our focus on employee engagement as a key driver for employee satisfaction, consumer experience, and overall performance outcomes.
Structural Empowerment
Empowering nurses to actively contribute their ideas and suggestions to help achieve organizational goals and enhance health outcomes effectively.
The Healthy Room Project
The program has positively impacted over 250 children with the help of 700 police officers and 2,500 volunteers, working to improve the well-being of underprivileged, inner-city children who often face dangerous living conditions.
Mentoring and Middle Management Institute
Christopher (Chris) Navalta MSN RN, Nurse Manager at Kaiser Permanente Modesto Medical Center, is advancing his professional development through 2 significant programs focused on leadership and operational excellence.
Perioperative national certification review courses
These courses, aimed at preparing nurses for the Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) and Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN)/Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) exams, were held at Modesto Medical Center.
Building community and confidence: Volunteering at the Special Olympics
The Special Olympics provides athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities the chance to compete, build confidence, and form lasting friendships.
Supporting the future of nursing
Several nurse leaders supported the future of nursing by serving as mentors to nurses who are new to their practice.
Central Valley nurses soar to new heights in their practice
Kaiser Permanente nurses demonstrated their commitment to creating and sustaining a culture of excellence by advancing their professional practice through earning advanced degrees, moving to the next level of the clinical ladder, obtaining national board certification, and graduating from the nurse residency program.
Exemplary Professional Practice
Utilizing evidence to deliver care that aligns with Kaiser Permanente’s mission and vision, and our nursing Professional Practice Model.
Celebrating the Golden Hour success in our NICU: A year of achievement
As we reflect on 2024, we are filled with immense pride and gratitude for the incredible achievements we’ve made in our NICU.
Discharge Lounge
We are thrilled to share the success of the Discharge Lounge at KP Modesto, which officially opened on August 12, 2024. This initiative has been a game-changer in enhancing patient flow and optimizing care delivery.
Empowering recovery: Optimizing postoperative care for mastectomy and lumpectomy patients
As the demographic of breast cancer patients continues to get younger, they face not only physical challenges from surgery but also significant emotional distress. Same-day surgeries, such as lumpectomies and mastectomies, can leave patients grappling with feelings of anxiety, fear, and body image concerns.
Guided imagery: An evidence-based, nurse-driven complimentary intervention
Surgery typically leads to acute postoperative pain, which physicians manage with pharmacologic interventions to alleviate discomfort. However, fear of pain and potential outcomes can intensify a patient's perception of pain. Effective pain management plays a crucial role in ensuring both short- and long-term positive patient outcomes.
Manteca Enhanced Recovery Medicine
In 2024, Manteca’s Enhanced Recovery Medicine (ERM) team reached an extraordinary milestone by becoming the number one performer in the Kaiser Permanente, Northern California region, setting a new benchmark for excellence in patient care.
New Knowledge, Innovation & Improvements
Continually evolving to advance patient care rooted in evidenced-based practice, research, and innovation.
Implementation of the Nasal Bridal Securement Device
In our Modesto Medical Center, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), nurses faced challenges in securing nasogastric tubes (NGTs) with adhesive tape. While tape was a common method, it often resulted in unintended NGT removal, slippage, skin irritation, or pressure injuries.
Strategic growth and excellence in pediatric care: Ensuring leadership in the Central Valley
To secure market leadership and provide comprehensive care for an anticipated 545,000+ members by 2034, the Central Valley Area (CVA) must invest strategically in primary, specialty, and acute care services.
Empirical Quality Outcomes
Demonstrating the impact Kaiser Permanente nurses are making in the lives of our members, patients, and communities we serve.
Lactation: A cornerstone of excellence in mother-baby care
Our Mother Baby department proudly ranks among the top three in the NCAL region and is recognized for delivering exceptional lactation support. We launched the Donor Breast Milk program in the NCAL region, piloting a groundbreaking initiative that underscores our unwavering commitment to comprehensive feeding solutions for our babies.
Fall Prevention Rapid Improvement Event (RIE): Transforming patient safety
Before this initiative, the Medical-Surgical Units had recorded 13 falls with injury year-to-date, underscoring the urgent need for action. Falls posed significant risks to patient recovery, impacted care quality, and highlighted the necessity for systemic improvements.
Maternal Fetal Triage Index
To ensure our patients are seen in a timely manner and align with the latest evidence-based practices, implementing the Maternal Fetal Triage Index (MFTI) is a crucial step in enhancing patient safety and optimizing obstetric care.
VIDA (Very Important Discharge Appointment)
As we move forward on our journey to becoming a Magnet-designated hospital, VIDA stands as a testament to the innovation and dedication of our Mother Baby nurses. Spearheaded by our nurses and rolled out in the NCAL region, this project marks an important milestone in our commitment to excellence.