“Pamela embodies what it means to be an extraordinary nurse leader. She lives the Kaiser Permanente mission and values and cultivates the same in her leadership teams and staff,” said Christina Prajna James, RN, quality director, Home Health and Hospice, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center.
Pamela Son, MSN-BSN, PHN, is the interim service director for the Home Health and Hospice (HHH) department at the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center and is an 8-year Kaiser Permanente employee.
Inspiration for Nursing
For Son, nursing is not just a profession but a personal calling deeply rooted in her upbringing. “I grew up in an extended family, where I saw many people caring for sick loved ones, friends, and spouses. It became an integral part of me to be sincere and care for those who need help. These life experiences inspired me to become a nurse,” said Son.
“I’m also inspired when I see nurses work together selflessly, empower each other, positively impact patients and their families, and share the same passion for continuous process improvement,” she added.
Leading with Purpose
Purpose and reflection define Son’s leadership style. “I lead with purpose by reflecting on what I have done right for patients, members, their families, and coworkers, and then use my knowledge to help develop others in their roles,” she said.
As the Northern California Home Health and Hospice representative with Cardinal Health at Home (CHAH) medical supplier, Son’s leadership skills have driven significant changes. “Her efforts in reorganizing, tracking, and managing medication orders have led to substantial financial savings and brought about greater efficiencies for our staff,” said Prajna.
“She maintains a strong partnership with CHAH, providing regional and local training for all HHH staff. Her regular meeting with CHAH ensures she is always up to date with supply/back orders and delivery updates.” Prajna adds.
Delivering Care Excellence
As Interim Home Health and Hospice Service Director, Son evaluates and updates processes to benefit patients and staff. For example, she ensures the initial referrals to HHH are provided promptly. Prompt referrals lead to timely care, preventing patients from returning to the emergency room and thus reducing readmissions.
She orients new clinical supervisors and strives for more home tracer visits, which evaluate patients’ quality of care. “By doing more home tracer visits, staff are provided more support and guidance, and they can complete tasks more efficiently and to a higher standard,” said Son.
Son actively promotes open communication and staff empowerment through a speak-up culture. She ensures that rounding happens for all staff and immediately takes action to address and improve systems.
“Pam also ensures that kudos celebrating staff accomplishments are hard-wired into our staff huddles/meetings, fostering a culture of recognition and empowerment,” stated Prajna.
“We are all very fortunate to have Pam Son in a Continuum leadership role,” said Prajna.