South Sacramento Medical Center
A message from Kelly Sullivan, MSN, RN
Associate Chief Administrative Officer
Director of Nursing and Clinical Practice
As we reflect on 2024, I am inspired by the exceptional achievements of our nursing and patient care teams, as highlighted in this annual report. Together, we have made significant strides in delivering safe, equitable care of the highest quality and providing an unparalleled experience for our patients. None of this would be possible without our highly engaged teams—both at the bedside and behind the scenes — riving improvements in patient care, access, safety and efficiency.
This year TPMG South Sacramento proudly welcomed the Cardiac Cath Lab, Gastroenterology, and Interventional Radiology teams to the Shared Governance model, joining our esteemed Emergency Department and PCS. In collaboration with our KFH partners, these teams quickly aligned with the Magnet standards and made significant contributions toward our re-designation efforts.
The initial focus this year was the establishment of the Procedural Unit Practice Council. This initiative brought together nurses from the procedural areas to foster collaboration, identify common goals, and drive improvements in nursing practice and patient care. Bringing these teams together has created a new platform for advancing nursing excellence and improving outcomes for our patients.
At the unit level, our procedural nurses demonstrated their strong engagement and enthusiasm with an impressive response rate to the Nursing Excellence Survey. This initial survey served as an excellent starting point for the teams to build upon as we continue our Magnet journey.
This year saw the establishment of the Nursing Director Council, a collaborative initiative created in partnership with KFH. This council brings together nursing directors from all TPMG and KFH departments, fostering a coordinated effort to nursing leadership. This marks a first in aligning leadership efforts across these entities.
We are incredibly proud of the dedication, passion, and innovation demonstrated by our nurses and our teams. As we look forward to 2025, we remain committed to building upon these successes, continuing to elevate nursing practice, supporting each other and delivering exceptional care to our patients and their families.
“The nurses at Kaiser South Sacramento were very patient, compassionate, loving, kind, understanding. And I can’t say thanks enough to all the nurses, all the doctors, all the staff members, housekeepers, and everyone that I came in contact with. Thank you guys very much for all your help and I appreciate you guys. Thank you.”
—Melissa T.
About South Sacramento Medical Center
We are recognized as a top hospital in our community and honored for quality, patient safety and advanced medical care by industry and media organizations.
2024 By the Numbers
1,482
Registered nurses
45
Nurses hired
27
Nurse residents hired
5%
Average turnover
17%
Board certified nurses
922
Bachelor’s degree in nursing
158
Master’s degree in nursing
12
Doctorate degree in nursing
5
New Caritas Coaches
10
Evidence-Based Practice graduates
Transformational Leadership
Fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability to evolve the way we provide care.
Celebrating our South Sacramento 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.
Nurse leaders and house supervisors work to optimize workflow of ‘Z Beds’
A small team of frontline nurses and nurse leaders, led by Ericson “Alvin” Fernando, MSN, RN, CNL, and Christina Martin, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, visited sister hospital Kaiser Permanente Roseville…
South Sacramento’s nursing excellence honored at Kings game
Nurses who contributed to our South Sacramento Medical Center’s historic Magnet with Distinction recognition were celebrated before thousands of cheering Sacramento Kings fans during an exciting game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
DAISY Award founders honor nurses during visit to South Sacramento
Bonnie and Mark Barnes visited our South Sacramento Medical Center in January 2024, leaving nurses with a powerful message of how valued they are and why they’re considered true heroes to the patients and families they serve.
Nursing Professional Governance at South Sacramento
Each year, South Sacramento nurses create posters that showcase their Unit or Facility councils’ achievements and moments of pride over the year. Members of our Patient and Family Advisory Council join in on the fun and visit each booth and learn about the goals and achievements from the nurses.
Structural Empowerment
Empowering nurses to actively contribute their ideas and suggestions to help achieve organizational goals and enhance health outcomes effectively.
Nurses exemplify commitment to community
South Sacramento nurses demonstrated their community to fulfilling Kaiser Permanente's mission to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve.
Supporting the future of South Sacramento nursing
Several nurse leaders supported the future of nursing by serving as a mentor to nurses new to their practice.
South Sacramento 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.
Patient safety at the center of Tis the Season for Quality campaign
While physicians and employees were enjoying the Season of Gratitude, our Safety, Quality & Regulatory Services and Patient Care Services teams were also busy celebrating their own “Tis the Season…
It’s report card time and, once again, our South Sacramento Medical Center is at the top of the class
The Leapfrog Group announced its latest round of Safety Grades in November 2024. For the second time this year, our medical center has earned an “A” for safety. This accomplishment…
Workplace Violence Prevention Fair highlights a safety-first culture
South Sacramento nurses attend the 2nd Annual Workplace Violence Prevention Fair.
EPP Code BERT launched in efforts to support staff safety
RN’s and leaders worked together to launch Code BERT, a code that is called for any patient exhibiting behavior that staff feels has the potential to escalate, but does not appear to be an imminent threat to self and/or others.
ICU Nurses launch HAPI Hour 2.0
In October of 2024, the ICU HAPI prevention workgroup conducted impactful training sessions titled “HAPI Hour 2.0.” These sessions, which built on the success of the previous year's “HAPI Hour,” were a focused quality improvement project to reduce HAPIs in the ICU.
New Knowledge, Innovation & Improvements
Continually evolving to advance patient care rooted in evidenced-based practice, research, and innovation.
ICU nurses showcase their commitment to quality in reducing falls and HAPIs
The ICU Unit Practice Council Team's efforts in Falls and HAPI prevention/reduction were recognized at the local Simply the Best Showcase.
Gastrointestinal/endoscopy team develop inpatient procedure preparation optimization workflow
This project was developed by Nursing staff in the GI department. The project included collaboration with inpatient teams to optimize procedure preparation with education to the inpatient staff for best pre procedural workflow and procedure success.
ICU education council holds 2nd annual ICU critical care symposium
The symposium focused on various topics relevant not only to critical care nursing but also to other nursing areas, such as the emergency department and PACU.
NK Interventional Radiology nurses aim to optimize patient outcomes
Initiation of Jardiance/Ozempic holds for procedural and General Anesthesia cases to optimize patient clinical outcomes.
Utilizing play to reduce fear, anxiety and pain
Ambulatory Surgery Unit RN implements project “Utilizing Play and Fantasy to Effectively Reduce Pediatric and Parental/Guardian Perioperative Fear, Anxiety, and Pain”
South Sacramento nurses show dedication to continuous improvement
South Sacramento nurses show dedication to continuous improvement through multiple RDO submissions and ongoing research. Ongoing research study A research team led by Shavinderpal Sanga, MSN, RN, CNS, ACCNS-AG, GERO-BC,…