Kathy A. Sanderson
Johnson City,TN
Summary
Accomplished leader with extensive experience in surgical services across various healthcare organizations. Proven expertise in regulatory compliance and quality improvement, significantly enhancing patient safety protocols. Achieved a remarkable increase in provider satisfaction from 28% to 73%. Demonstrated skills in financial management and operational efficiency, driving impactful results through strategic leadership and collaboration.
Overview
48
48
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Interim Director Surgical and Cardiac Services with HealthLinx
Owensboro Health Regional Hospital
Owensboro, KY
05.2022 - 06.2023
- Oversaw 230 FTE and 7 direct reports across preadmission testing, prep/recovery, surgery, PACU, cath lab/IR, endoscopy, and sterile processing to ensure streamlined operations.
- Coordinated integration of cath lab into surgical services service line, enhancing workflow and patient care.
- Assessed and addressed non-compliance of endoscope processing/storage, leading initiatives to meet ANSI AAMI ST91 and achieving 100% compliance during Joint Commission Survey.
- Assessed the need for a Business Manager for Surgical/Cardiac Services to be added to the matrix. Approved by COO and selection made. The role allowed managers to focus on their teams and department outcomes.
- Owensboro Regional Hospital is part of the Owensboro Health System. Owensboro Regional Hospital, the system’s flagship, is a 477-bed academic, not-for-profit, and community hospital. www.healthlinx.com
Interim Endoscopy Director & Periop PI Manager with HealthLinx
UK Albert B Chandler Hospital/Good Samaritan Hospital
Lexington, KY
10.2019 - 12.2021
- Managed staffing for endoscopy departments across both facilities, overseeing 48.5 FTE and 1 direct report.
- Assessed scope cleaning processes resulting in the overall compliance with MIFU for reprocessing endoscopes.
- Created monthly report for leadership detailing quality metrics for scope processing and patient outcomes.
- Evaluated staffing matrix across Enterprise to fill key positions vacant for over 12 months.
- Scope cultures from Jan 2020 through May 2020 resulted in negative findings.
- UK Albert B Chandler Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital are part of UKHealthCare System and are recognized as a Magnet facility.
Transitional OR Nurse Manager with HealthLinx
Guthrie Corning Hospital
Corning, NY
02.2019 - 07.2019
- Oversaw 55 FTE and 3 direct reports in Preadmission Testing, Surgery, ASU, PACU, Endoscopy, and Sterile Processing.
- Developed Quality Dashboard for Surgical Services, presenting findings to Senior Leadership to enhance service delivery (May 2019).
- No external turnover of clinical staff from February through July.
- Enhanced regulatory compliance for point of care cleaning and instrumentation processing, ensuring adherence to safety standards.
- Implemented daily huddles for OR and CPD, integrating Daily Management Metrics to foster team communication and accountability.
- Corning Hospital is part of the Guthrie Health System.
Transitional Director of Surgical Services and Sterile Processing with HealthLinx
Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital
Sayre, PA
02.2018 - 12.2018
- Directed operations for 157 FTE and 3 direct reports, focusing on Preadmission Testing, Surgery, PACU, and Sterile Processing.
- Reduced room turnover time from 38 minutes to 36 minutes, enhancing surgical scheduling efficiency.
- Cut average room clean time from 10 minutes to 6 minutes, optimizing workflow in surgical services.
- Enhanced regulatory compliance for flexible scope cleaning and storage in the OR, ensuring patient safety and operational standards.
- Achieved an annualized financial impact of $476,777.
- Robert Packer Hospital is a part of the Guthrie Health System. It is a Level 2 Trauma Center.
Transitional Manager with HealthLinx
Southern Illinois Healthcare-Herrin Hospital
Herrin, IL
07.2017 - 11.2017
- Managed 26 FTE and 2 direct reports in Preadmission Testing, Same Day Surgery, and PACU to ensure operational efficiency.
- Improved patient satisfaction score for Ambulatory Surgery from 88.4 to 92.3.
- Decreased day of service cancellations from 3.1% to 1.3%.
- Implemented engagement strategies that maintained staff retention from July to November.
- Recruited for key staff positions, reducing vacancies that persisted for over six months.
- Herrin Hospital is a part of the Southern Illinois Healthcare System.
Transitional Director of Surgical Services with HealthLinx
Kennedy University Hospital – Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill, NJ
11.2015 - 04.2017
- Managed team of 31 FTE and 4 direct reports, overseeing 5 surgical suites, same day surgery, endoscopy, and PACU, facilitating annual volume of 3,400 cases.
- Achieved an annualized financial impact of $1.9 Million.
- Improved On-Time First Case starts from 31% to 94%.
- Increased monthly case volume from 170/month to 332/month.
- Coordinated preparation for partnership with two new surgical groups, integrating five additional physicians into surgical staff.
- Enhanced compliance with regulatory requirements across operating room.
- Achieved & exceeded the goal of 94% patient satisfaction through improved nurse leader rounding.
- Cherry Hill Hospital is part of Kennedy Health, an integrated healthcare delivery system providing a full continuum of healthcare services, ranging from acute-care hospitals to a broad spectrum of outpatient and wellness programs. Cherry Hill Hospital is a 181-bed academic, not-for-profit, and community hospital.
Transitional Surgical Services Leader with HealthLinx
Washington Hospital Center
Washington, DC
02.2015 - 10.2015
- Oversaw multiple direct reports across Neuro, Colorectal, ENT, and OMF cost centers of Surgical Services, enhancing departmental collaboration.
- Led an improvement project on physician preference cards increasing on time starts by approximately 20% (in Neuro specifically) and material usage.
- Collaborated with Infection Control to develop and implement a comprehensive Prevention Plan for Surgical Services, reducing infection risk.
- Enhanced room utilization during peak hours, maximizing surgical efficiency.
- Achieved a financial impact of $45,150 in a very challenging and large OR.
- Washington Hospital Center is a 926-bed not-for-profit, Level I Trauma center with a unionized nursing staff and is also a member of MedStar Health.
Multi-facility Director, Perioperative Services
Johnson City Medical Center (JCMC)/Franklin Woods Community Hospital (FWCH)
Johnson City, TN
01.2009 - 01.2015
- Have direct oversight of operational and fiscal responsibility for operating suites located on the main campus (18 OR) and on the additional campus (6 OR).
- Collaborated with departments across both campuses, including PAT, Short Stay, PACU, and CSP, to drive achievement of operational goals.
- Centralized surgery scheduling for both facilities.
- Developed annual operating capital budget for eleven reporting cost centers, optimizing resource allocation and ensuring adherence to budgeted expenditures.
- Improved Provider satisfaction score from 28% to 73%.
- Improved percentage of OR cases starting on time from 42% to 68% for a savings of approximately $850,000 over a 6 month period of time.
- Renegotiated existing perfusion contract resulting in $49,000 annual savings.
- Increased surgical volume by 8% through transition from traditional block schedule to modified block scheduling.
- Implemented changes that increased patient satisfaction score from below 40% to 93%.
- Key clinical advisor for construction of a new $67 Million dollar surgery tower consisting of 16 OR, central sterile processing department and support area.
Associate Chief, Nursing Service, Surgical Care Service Line
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Salem, VA
01.2007 - 01.2010
- Oversaw inpatient, emergency, and dialysis departments, supervising 7 direct reports and 203 FTEs to ensure high-quality patient care.
- Reduced avoidable surgical cancelations to below 8%, enhancing patient satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Salem, VA PACU process for maintaining normothermia in the post-op patient was recognized as a Standard of Excellence across VA facilities nation-wide.
- Provided primary, secondary, and tertiary care at Salem VA Medical Center, managing 150 acute inpatient beds within the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.
Nurse Manager, OR/PACU
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Birmingham, AL
01.1995 - 01.2001
- Oversaw patient care services for 11 ORs, 7 PACU beds, and 46 FTEs, ensuring optimal operational efficiency.
- Performed approximately 5,500 procedures annually.
- Monitored daily overtime, case start times, OR utilization, block utilization by surgeon, case cancellation rates, and material costs per case to ensure effective resource management.
- The Birmingham VA Medical Center provides primary, secondary and tertiary care having 219 acute inpatient beds. It is unionized and is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.
Various Nursing Positions
01.1975 - 01.1995
- High Risk Nursery Staff RN, Operating Room Staff RN, Scrub and Circulator roles, Perioperative Staff Development Coordinator.
- Completed day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Contributed innovative ideas and solutions to enhance team performance and outcomes.
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services.
Education
MSN -
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL01.1997
BSN -
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL01.1990
ADN -
Samford University
Birmingham, AL01.1975
Skills
- Surgical services oversight
- Patient safety protocols
- Regulatory compliance
- Quality improvement
- Operational efficiency
- Financial management
Mailing Address
PO Box 4569
Johnson City, TN 37602
Certification
Registered Nurse-Tennessee Expires 01/31/2027
Timeline
Interim Director Surgical and Cardiac Services with HealthLinx
Owensboro Health Regional Hospital
05.2022 - 06.2023
Interim Endoscopy Director & Periop PI Manager with HealthLinx
UK Albert B Chandler Hospital/Good Samaritan Hospital
10.2019 - 12.2021
Transitional OR Nurse Manager with HealthLinx
Guthrie Corning Hospital
02.2019 - 07.2019
Transitional Director of Surgical Services and Sterile Processing with HealthLinx
Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital
02.2018 - 12.2018
Transitional Manager with HealthLinx
Southern Illinois Healthcare-Herrin Hospital
07.2017 - 11.2017
Transitional Director of Surgical Services with HealthLinx
Kennedy University Hospital – Cherry Hill
11.2015 - 04.2017
Transitional Surgical Services Leader with HealthLinx
Washington Hospital Center
02.2015 - 10.2015
Multi-facility Director, Perioperative Services
Johnson City Medical Center (JCMC)/Franklin Woods Community Hospital (FWCH)
01.2009 - 01.2015
Associate Chief, Nursing Service, Surgical Care Service Line
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
01.2007 - 01.2010
Nurse Manager, OR/PACU
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
01.1995 - 01.2001
Various Nursing Positions
01.1975 - 01.1995
MSN -
University of Alabama at Birmingham
BSN -
University of Alabama at Birmingham
ADN -
Samford University