Sarah Lazarides
Del Mar,CA
Summary
Professional with robust background in directing and managing large-scale operations, consistently driving success through strategic planning and execution. Adept at implementing innovative solutions that enhance productivity and operational effectiveness. Known for fostering teamwork and adapting to evolving business needs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Utilization Management
Kaiser Permanente
01.2025 - Current
- Provided overall direction, design, development implementation and monitoring of utilization programs to meet the Service Areas or Medical Centers utilization goals while maintaining customer satisfaction.
- Acted as a resource to the medical staff, administrative staff, divisional, SCPMG, TPMG and external regulatory agencies in all issues relating to utilization management within the Service Area or Medical Center.
- Oversees outside medical services based on Health Plan benefit guidelines and medical necessity.
- Analyzes and reports significant utilization trends, patterns, and impact to appropriate departmental and medical staff committees.
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Ensured timely access to appropriate levels of care for patients by closely monitoring case loads and adjusting staffing levels accordingly.
- Reduced hospital readmissions by identifying trends in patient care and recommending targeted interventions.
- Conducted comprehensive audits of departmental operations to identify areas for improvement or potential risks related to non-compliance with regulations.
- Played a key role in the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures aimed at maintaining high-quality care standards while adhering to regulatory guidelines within the scope of utilization management activities.
- Presented findings from utilization reviews at interdisciplinary meetings, resulting in improved collaboration among healthcare professionals involved in patient care decisions.
- Collaborated with data analysts to review performance metrics, identify trends, and inform strategic planning initiatives related to utilization management operations.
- Managed high-profile cases effectively, ensuring timely resolution of complex utilization issues for patients, providers.
- Coordinated individual duties after careful evaluation of each employee's skill level and knowledge.
Director Perioperative Services
Kaiser Permanente
03.2022 - 11.2024
- With Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and SCPMG developed strategic/business plans to achieve integrated services across the continuum of care at multiple sites/departments.
- Analyzed data from various sources to identify trends or opportunities for improvement within Perioperative Services.
- Promoted cost effective measures while maintaining quality care delivery.
- Implemented new technologies to improve efficiencies.
- Ensured compliance with hospital regulations and accreditation standards related to Perioperative Services.
- Managed day-to-day operations of Perioperative Services including staffing, scheduling, budgeting and equipment maintenance.
- Assisted with the development of strategic plans for growth in perioperative services. Effectively communicated with all levels of personnel both verbally and written.
- Developed and maintained policies, procedures, protocols and standards for Perioperative Services.
- Provided leadership in developing a culture of safety and quality improvement initiatives within Perioperative Services.
- Evaluated current processes related to healthcare delivery systems, suggesting changes that could enhance effectiveness or reduce costs.
- Managed change in integrated health care delivery systems, such as work restructuring, technological innovations, and shifts in focus of care.
- Collaborated with other key stakeholders to establish and maintain programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and vision across the service area.
- Contributed ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of nursing organization-wide.
- Directed the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional organizational values, beliefs and practices at the program or services level.
- Transformed health care by implementing new processes, technology, informatics, and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level.
- Collaborated with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care.
Executive Director of Perioperative and Interventional Services (Contract)
Providence Medical Center
10.2021 - 03.2022
- Created a culture of transparency through open communication with senior leadership, physicians and staff members within the organization.
- Provided executive leadership in setting long-term goals and objectives, creating policies, and developing procedures for the organization.
- Evaluated existing programs for effectiveness, identified gaps in services, and recommended changes or new approaches as needed.
- Created annual budget to support program operation and meet organizational goals.
- Planned and implemented strategic initiatives to drive organizational growth, enhance team performance, and maximize revenue.
- Read and interpreted financial statements and managed budget.
- Directed all aspects of human resources including recruitment, hiring, training, onboarding, employee relations, compensation and benefits administration.
- Led teams of professionals, providing guidance, mentoring, and setting clear objectives.
- Identified development needs and provided planning and leadership to achieve program implementation.
- Designed and implemented strategies to achieve organizational goals, maximize efficiency, and drive revenue growth.
- Worked with management team to develop and enhance skill set requirements, gap analysis and training plans.
- Participated in cross-functional activities to enhance operating efficiencies and serve as subject matter expert.
- Served as liaisons between organizations, shareholders and outside organizations.
- Implemented corrective action plans to solve organizational and departmental problems.
- Transformed health care by implementing new processes, technology, informatics, and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level.
- Collaborated with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care.
Director of Surgical and Interventional Services
Kaiser Permanente Northwest
10.2020 - 10.2021
- Directed 287 FTEs and managed the delivery of nursing services and safe patient care.
- Integrated business plans to meet or exceed cost, quality, clinical and utilization standards, as well as performance measures.
- Ensured that services meet members, physician and internal client needs in a changing, competitive health care market.
- Accountable for the efficient delivery of patient care and support services within the service line for KP members by directing the development, evaluation and utilization of safe, cost effective, high quality nursing practices.
- With Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and NW Permanente developed strategic/business plans to achieve integrated services across the continuum of care at multiple sites/departments.
- Directed and ensured continuous quality and safety of staff and patients and improvement of all clinical practices, services and operations by managing the design and implementation of systems, processes and methods to evaluate and improve safe patient care across the continuum.
- Planned developed and/or directs the implementation of service area initiatives within the service line shares best practices and standards of care.
- Directed budget management and resource allocation.
- Managed financial performance and identifies and implements strategies to reduce costs and improve quality and safety of care and service.
- Participated in a labor management partnership.
- Directed compliance with administrative, legal and regulatory requirements of governmental and regulatory agencies.
Main and CVOR Nurse Manager
Kaiser Permanente
08.2019 - 10.2021
- Trained and mentored new RNs on best practices, hospital policies and standards of care.
- Electronic Health Record (EHR) system
- Provided training and supervision in Intra-operative unit.
- Maintained adequate unit supplies to meet expected patient demands.
- Helped patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery and reducing compliance issues.
- Addressed unit staff concerns, including staffing ratios, resource management, allocation of responsibilities and optimized workload management.
- Offered clinical leadership and oversight to 184 team members.
- Developed and maintained quality care systems and standards, including creating and improving perioperative protocols and guidelines.
- Maintained infection control logs, streamlined charting process, and improved patient outcomes through training and leadership.
- Imparted medical, operational and patient care knowledge to junior nurses to maximize performance and quality of team operations.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Coordinated care with physicians and other clinical staff to prepare for treatment, carry out interventions and enhance continuum of care to deliver comprehensive services.
- Managed operations in accordance with budget requirements.
Hospital Administration Supervisor (House Manager)
Kaiser Permanente
08.2018 - 08.2019
- Directed/managed hospital operations on assigned shift to ensure that appropriate patient care is provided and patient/family needs are met.
- Rounded on all patient units to identify patient placement needs, available beds with assigned staff and staff capacity to safely take additional admissions, at least once every three (3) to four (4) hours. Communicates at Huddles and directly with Charge Nurse to: Review current patients. Identify pending/potential discharges. Determine capacity and time frame for admissions. Discuss any anticipated internal transfers in department to facilitate patient care needs or room for admission. Support regional utilization strategy.
- Worked with Unit Managers and their designee, Regional Telephonic Medical Center (RTMC), Surgical Services, the Emergency Department, Bed Control Coordinator, Care Coordinators, outside facilities, Physicians, Urgent Care, and KP Clinics, to assure appropriate prioritization and placement of patients.
- Coordinated with Unit Managers and their designee and Staffing Specialists to ensure appropriate staff is provided on each shift to meet patient needs and maintain cost effectiveness. Collaborates with managers/directors to initiate additional resources for planned or unplanned events. Initiates Escalation Process when necessary.
- Completed Administrative Report at designated frequencies.
- Ensured compliance with organizational policy and procedures and with regulatory requirements.
- Coordinated the AOC the ED Charge RN and ED Physician request for decision to divert ambulances if Emergency Department has exhausted all resources to create capacity to manage additional ambulance patients.
- Anticipated potential problems and intervened to minimize adverse impact; manages conflicts that arise.
- Assisted with decedent affairs including organ/tissue procurement procedures.
- Acted as a clinical resource for nursing including interpretation of policies and procedures and assisted with clinical practice issues. Supported performance improvement activities.
- Assisted departmental staff in responding to and resolving patient/family questions, concerns or complaints when management team not available.
- Assisted with the on-the-job injury management program.
- Appropriately communicated and documented administrative, departmental, risk management and member issues to ensure timely follow up and response.
- Coordinated with Engineering regarding equipment malfunctions, safety issues and repair needs, and ongoing patient room maintenance.
- Initiates Disaster Procedures as necessary and functions as incident commander until relieved.
Surgical Prep and Post Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse Manager
Kaiser Permanente
04.2016 - 08.2018
- Supported patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery.
- Addressed unit staff concerns, including staffing ratios, resource management, allocation of responsibilities and optimized workload management.
- Provided training and supervision to 55-member staff in preoperative and post anesthesia unit.
- Developed and maintained quality care systems and standards, including creating and improving perioperative protocols and guidelines.
- Ensured quality patient care from admission to discharge through direct supervision of all nursing and ancillary staff.
Main and Cardiac Operating Room Charge Nurse
Kaiser Permanente
10.2010 - 04.2016
- Direct patient care in a 13-suite intra operative setting.
- Circulate and scrub all surgical specialties.
- Trained in specialty services, including cardiovascular, liver, and joint CVL procedures.
- Effective team leader, nurse, and preceptor.
- Ensured that all surgical instruments and sponges that were used in procedures were accounted for upon completion of operations.
- DAY CHARGE/EVENING CHARGE NURSE: Facilitate unit operations and patient flow.
- Assist with direct patient care.
- Collaborate with SPA, PACU, physicians, Anesthesia, staff, and support services to manage surgical case load.
- Experience in change management, including effectively supporting a staff that included up to 25 travelers on evening shift.
- Precept new employees to unit.
- Assist with staffing plan for unit.
- Maintain an effective and collaborative relationship with SPA, PACU, physicians, Anesthesia, staff, and support services to ensure safe, quality patient care.
- UBT CO-LEAD: Creating agenda and facilitate biweekly UBT representative meetings.
- Develop and present at monthly UBT all staff meeting.
- Model collaborative behavior and act as a team leader in pursuing department goals and initiatives.
- Build relationships with management, physicians, staff, and other departments to support ongoing cooperation and support for process improvement.
- Collaborate with UBT representatives, management co-lead, and various other departments to plan, implement, and determine outcomes for process and quality improvement measure.
- Past Rapid Improvement Model (RIM) projects have included themes of patient safety, quality assurance, process improvement, affordability, improved work flow, and efficiency.
- Past collaborators have included SPA, PACU, MPU, 2N, CSP, MSD, and EVS.
- Trained and mentored new RNs on best practices, hospital policies and standards of care.
- Coordinated care with physicians and other clinical staff to prepare for treatment, carry out interventions and enhance continuum of care to deliver comprehensive services.
- Delivered exceptional care to patients throughout the entire surgical lifecycle to support positive health outcomes.
- Delivered tailored nursing care to adult patients suffering from multiple diagnoses.
- Built relationships with pre- and post-surgical patients through compassionate approach and positive attitude.
- Assessed patients prior to surgical procedures by asking questions, detailing medical histories.
Education
Masters of Science in Nursing - Leadership Emphasis
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona07.2022
Bachelors of Science in Nursing - undefined
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona08.2017
Associate Degree - Nursing
Columbia Gorge Community College
The Dalles, OR06.2010
Some College (No Degree) - Surgical Technology
Boise State University
Boise, IdahoCertification
- California State Board of Nursing: 95265792 Expires: 2025-06
- Nevada State Board of Nursing: 883572 Expires: 2026-05-17
Accomplishments
- Operationalized surgical care during an internal disaster which required strategic planning with surgical partners, risk management, infection prevention and medical executive team. Operationalizing and achieving health equity and applied ethical decision making.
- COVID-19 Standard operating protocol/procedure Surgical Surge planning and implementation related to COVID-19 delays.
- Collaboration with Permanente, Health Plan leadership, building administration to ensure air quality controls/index are at appropriate range for patients and staff. Improved infection prevention measure established in the peri-operative setting during forest fires 2020.
- Established/collaborated/implemented a protocol and education related to Tissue Tracking to align with regulatory requirements. Reconciliation of over 10,000 tissue logs.
- Established/collaborated/implemented process to increase on-time starts from 80% to 98%.
- Established/collaborated/implemented process to decrease turnover times from 58 minutes to 37 minutes.
- Established/collaborated/implemented process with anesthesia for nursing support in MRI for pediatric patients.
- Established workflow/protocol to track inpatients requiring anesthesia services for regional nerve blocks.
- Established and proven partnership in leading team in a union organization. Work stoppage planning, creating surgical operating plan for possible implementation.
- Collaboration to improve same day discharges with initiatives such as ERAS, Same day total shoulder discharges.
- As part of a Level 5 UBT quality project, coordinated with SPA and PACU to implement protective measures against hospital acquired pressure ulcers(HAPUs).
- Poster selected and presented 'Year of Skin' quality project at National Quality Conference.
- Worked with UBT to revise and implement 'Pebbles in Your Shoe' feedback form to ensure staff had a platform to speak up effectively. Outcome: This improved department communication, morale, and staff engagement in seeking and implementing solutions to challenges.
- Collaborated with 2N UBT to engage staff in the development and implementation of a pre-op checklist for all surgical inpatients: Goals were to expedite patient flow, improvement patient and family satisfaction, decrease turnover time to meet financial benchmarks, and ensure quality patient care.
Awards
Seven Seals Award-Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserve National Guard and Reserve | 2019-06, Health Care Hero Kaiser Permanente 2024 San Diego Business Journal | 2024-05
Timeline
Director of Utilization Management
Kaiser Permanente
01.2025 - Current
Director Perioperative Services
Kaiser Permanente
03.2022 - 11.2024
Executive Director of Perioperative and Interventional Services (Contract)
Providence Medical Center
10.2021 - 03.2022
Director of Surgical and Interventional Services
Kaiser Permanente Northwest
10.2020 - 10.2021
Main and CVOR Nurse Manager
Kaiser Permanente
08.2019 - 10.2021
Hospital Administration Supervisor (House Manager)
Kaiser Permanente
08.2018 - 08.2019
Surgical Prep and Post Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse Manager
Kaiser Permanente
04.2016 - 08.2018
Main and Cardiac Operating Room Charge Nurse
Kaiser Permanente
10.2010 - 04.2016
Bachelors of Science in Nursing - undefined
Grand Canyon University
Masters of Science in Nursing - Leadership Emphasis
Grand Canyon University
Associate Degree - Nursing
Columbia Gorge Community College
Some College (No Degree) - Surgical Technology
Boise State University
Similar Profiles
Marie A. StevensonMarie A. Stevenson
Patient at Patient FinancialAdvisor, Kaiser Permanente Eligibility and FinancialServices, FinancialAdvisor, Kaiser PermanentePatient at Patient FinancialAdvisor, Kaiser Permanente Eligibility and FinancialServices, FinancialAdvisor, Kaiser Permanente
MICHAEL NAVAMICHAEL NAVA
Area Director at Kaiser Permanente – The Permanente Medical GroupArea Director at Kaiser Permanente – The Permanente Medical Group
Johnica M. BennettJohnica M. Bennett
Director of Midwifery Services at Kaiser Permanente- Mid Atlantic Permanente Medical GroupDirector of Midwifery Services at Kaiser Permanente- Mid Atlantic Permanente Medical Group
JAMES O'BRIENJAMES O'BRIEN
Family Physician at Northwest Permanente (Kaiser Permanente)Family Physician at Northwest Permanente (Kaiser Permanente)
James ColburnJames Colburn
Global Real Estate Advisor at Coldwell Banker RealtyGlobal Real Estate Advisor at Coldwell Banker Realty