Vacaville Medical Center
A message from Stephanie Tarter, MS, BSN, RN
Director of Nursing and Clinical Practice
As we close out this year, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the exceptional dedication and commitment to quality care demonstrated by our nursing team. Your commitment to excellence has not only touched the lives of our patients but has also set a benchmark for nursing excellence.
This year, we have made significant strides in nursing professional governance and development. The DAISY Recognition Program has highlighted the extraordinary compassion and clinical skills of our teams, celebrating those who go above and beyond in their care, and our first DAISY Team award in Adult and Family Medicine in Fairfield. Additionally, our Magnet® shared governance model and expansion of ambulatory surveyable spaces have empowered nurses at all levels to take an active role in decision-making, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
Our commitment to evidence-based practices has been a cornerstone of our success, ensuring that our nursing care is grounded in the latest research and best practices. This approach has strengthened our ability to provide high-quality, safe, and effective care to our patients.
Looking ahead to next year, we are excited to continue building on these foundations. We will focus on further strengthening our partnerships with physician partners, ancillary teams, and ambulatory leadership to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and patient outcomes. Our goal is to create an even more integrated and cohesive care environment where all team member’s contributions are valued and leveraged for the benefit of our patients.
About Vacaville 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
734
Registered nurses
37
Nurses hired
14
Nurse residents hired
8.9%
Average turnover
16%
Board certified nurses
20%
Associate’s degree/diploma in nursing
67%
Bachelor’s degree in nursing
12%
Master’s degree in nursing
1%
Doctorate degree in nursing
5
Conference posters & presentations
2
New Caritas Coaches
2
Evidence-Based Practice graduates
Transformational Leadership
Fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability to evolve the way we provide care.
Celebrating our Vacaville 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.
Vacaville Core Council
Over the past year, we have diligently pursued nursing excellence at Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center. We are proud to have established monthly councils dedicated to enhancing the nurse and patient experience and elevating our team.
A special celebration of centenarians at Vacaville Medical Center
The gathering was attended by the centenarians, their family members and caregivers, and their Kaiser Permanente care team who were excited to see them thriving outside of our clinic settings.
Trauma education, injury prevention, and outreach
We are committed to enhancing community safety through a comprehensive approach that includes education, advocacy, and collaboration with local organizations.
Mental Health First Aid program
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) method, originating in Australia, teaches participants to recognize, respond, listen, and refer as needed to a person who is suffering a mental health crisis.
Structural Empowerment
Empowering nurses to actively contribute their ideas and suggestions to help achieve organizational goals and enhance health outcomes effectively.
Supporting the future of Vacaville nursing
Several nurse leaders supported the future of nursing by serving as a mentor to nurses new to their practice.
Vacaville 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.
Onboarding patient care technicians
The Nursing Professional Development (NPD) team evaluated the onboarding process for Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) through interviews and workflow observations.
A tool to improve nurse-family communication
Our Intensive Care Unit Practice Council introduced a Welcome Packet in our 20-bed neuro-surgical/trauma intensive care unit (ICU) designed to improve communication and clarify expectations through a standardized approach.
Exemplary Professional Practice
Utilizing evidence to deliver care that aligns with Kaiser Permanente’s mission and vision, and our nursing Professional Practice Model.
Throughput improvement in the emergency department
We are excited to announce the launch of the Low Acuity Throughput Improvement Project. This initiative aims to enhance the care experience for our patients aged 18-42, who frequently visit our emergency department (ED) with less severe issues.
Family Birth Center: Cesarean section rate reduction
The objective of this project was to reduce the C-Section Core Measure PC-02 from 24.8% in the Safety Priority Index (SPI) year 2023 to 23.9% by the end of the 2024 SPI year. This goal was successfully met with a final Core Measure PC-02 rate of 22.3%.
New Knowledge, Innovation & Improvements
Continually evolving to advance patient care rooted in evidenced-based practice, research, and innovation.
Save our planet: Recycle knowledge
Innovation drives change by recycling knowledge and establishing professional governance principles. Evidence-based in-services were implemented for the Patient Care Coordinators to improve transition care.
Empirical Quality Outcomes
Demonstrating the impact Kaiser Permanente nurses are making in the lives of our members, patients, and communities we serve.
Measure-vention: Creating a program of formalized real-time peer to peer coaching to improve nurse sensitive outcomes
This method involves measuring care quality and providing real-time feedback between staff members to ensure high standards are maintained using evidence-based practice guidelines.