Kelley A. Sermak
Danville,IL
Summary
Highly skilled and dependable servant leader in the healthcare industry with exceptional experience in progressive leadership roles at the Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN, and local facility levels. Demonstrated expertise in planning, organizing, coordinating, reviewing, evaluating, and improving medical, administrative, and support operations. Extensive background includes successful management of complex Level 1 and Level 3 facilities within the VA system.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Director Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer - Nurse V
VA ILLIANA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
03.2016 - 02.2024
- Responsible for the overall management of the practice of nursing and the profession of nursing in a Level 3 complexity facility
- Also, responsible for care and services provided in Social Work Service, Food and Nutrition Service, Sterile Processing Service, Chaplin Service, and Care Coordination/Integrated Case Management program
- During my time at VAIHCS, I was given an opportunity to cover as the Acting, Medical Center Director for a period of 10 months (July 2018 through May 2019)
- In 2020, was given the opportunity to cover as the Acting, Associate Director from March 2020 through December 2021
- I have provided the leadership over the past 7 years to lead the organization to the first 'Pathway to Excellence' Designation from ANCC in September of 2023
- I have been planning for the future of Nursing at VAIHCS to get ahead of the pending nursing shortage
- I worked through the Nursing Strategic Plan and Staffing Methodology, for an Informatics Nurse position to support the introduction of technology into nursing practice and to help lead nursing through the new EMHR
- I obtained funding for 10 nurses to attend the Evidence-Based Practice Immersions in 12/2021 to support our nursing staff in utilizing the most current evidence to support clinical change in our professional practice
- I provided the leadership to have a Transition to Practice Program for APRNs to be able to hire new APRNs
- I have provided the leadership for the last 7 years to support the Relationship-Based Care (RBC) Practice Model
- I have provided the leadership to obtain resources for the Development of a Wound Care Program that has achieved zero HAPI over the last 3 years
- I have provided nursing leadership during the Pandemic to provide safe staffing and high-quality care during times of COVID-19 surges
- I have provided the leadership to ensure nursing compensation is competitive in our local markets
- I managed a 283-million-dollar budget and developed and executed action plans to reduce the 7 million-dollar deficit
- I provided leadership for successful follow-up of a Joint Commission Survey without any findings
- I provided leadership on a cost saving project to move to remote telemetry with Hines
- I organize a strategic planning day for the nursing leaders and key committee leads to develop a robust plan that will guide nursing resources for the future of VAIHCS
- I executed several reorganizations of over 200 employees who were realigned under the Associate Director of Patient Care Service
- I model behaviors of Servant Leadership by engaging with employees in all the areas that I supervise
- I have been the executive sponsor for the Veteran Experience Board
- I developed and executed a business plan to re-deploy 30 Nursing Resource Pool employees to vacant positions
- I effectively manage workplace conflicts with workgroups that are struggling
- I provided the leadership and guidance to move to a Primary Nurse model of care delivery for the Palliative Care Unit
- I provided the leadership for the successful procurement and implementation for a Nurse Scheduling Software System 'AcuStaf'
- I provided the leadership to split the Gero-psych unit which had significant staffing and leadership challenges over the past year
- I developed of a proposal to obtain funding from ONS for $153,000 to continue our cultural transformation with the implementation of Relationship Based Care
Deputy, Associate Director Patient Care Services - Nurse IV
RICHARD L. ROUDEBUSH VAMC
06.2014 - 03.2016
- Responsible for aiding the Nurse Executive in guiding the overall management of nursing practice at a Level 1A complexity organization with 800 nursing FTEE
- Participated in the decision making and policy development that influenced the practice of nursing across the health care system
- I provided the leadership for the successful procurement and implementation for a Nurse Scheduling Software System 'AcuStaf'
- I was the executive sponsor for a lean project with Nursing and Logistics to implement the '2 Bin System' in supply closets on the nursing units
- I implemented a new process for medication administration on the inpatient nursing units
- I completed two successful details during my employment in Indianapolis
VISN 11 Quality Management Officer- Nurse V
VISN 11 NETWORK OFFICE
04.2012 - 06.2014
- Responsible for providing clinical leadership to the VISN 11 Executive Leadership Team
- Provided leadership and coordination in developing and managing the network programs for Quality, Patient Safety, Risk Management, Performance Management, GEMS, Safety/Industrial Hygiene, and Sterile Processing
- Identified innovative quality management and patient safety improvement activities and facilitated them network-wide and VHA system wide
- Conducted organizational assessments using criteria-based models, developed, conducted, and directed special studies and analysis of complex issues as assigned
- I provided the leadership for the VISN 11 'No Preventable Harms Campaign' which was a Patient Safety Initiative to reduce patient harm from Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI)
- I provided support and assistance with complex clinical issues for 7 facilities to ensure compliance with Joint Commission, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and other accrediting organization for clinical services
VISN 11 Deputy Quality Management Officer - GS 14
VISN 11 NETWORK OFFICE
11.2008 - 04.2012
- Responsible for providing support for implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive Quality/Patient Safety Program for VISN 11 which consisted of 7 facilities - 3 - Level-1 complexity and 4- Level 3 complexity
- I worked on a national project to implement the Post-Discharge Phone Call
- I participated in four SOARS reviews to ensure compliance with directives and Joint Commission Standards
Education
LEAN HEALTHCARE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM -
University of Michigan - College of Engineering
Ann Arbor, Michigan01.2009
MASTER OF SCIENCE - Health Services Administration
University of St. Francis
Joliet, IL01.2002
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - Nursing
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL01.1996
DIPLOMA IN NURSING - Nursing
Lakeview College of Nursing
Danville, IL01.1984
Skills
- Experience in Quality and Risk Oversight
- Experience in Lean Process Optimization
- Patient Safety Expertise
- Strategic Policy Development
- Experience in Sterile Processing
- Experience in Ethical Practices
- Surgical Nursing Expertise
- Experience in Employee Engagement Strategies
- Client Relations Experience
- Guiding Teams in High Reliability Environments
- Healthcare Management Proficiencies
- Experience in Strategic Planning
Certification
- Registered Professional Nurse, Illinois, 041-229222, 01/01/85
- Certified Executive in Nursing Practice (CENP), 07/31/24
Accomplishments
- Completed FEMA - Healthcare Leadership for Mass Casualty Incidents training., 01/16/14
- Recognition of Contribution for career achievements at the VISN 11 Network Office., 05/01/13
- Recognition of Contribution as a member of the VHA Environment of Care Guidebook Professional Advisory Group (PAG)., 2008-2013
- Recognition of Contribution to the National Veteran Small Business Conference., 06/01/12
- Completed several senior leadership trainings for SES preparation.
- Selected to attend the Federal Executive Institute Training (FEI) for Senior Leaders.
- Completed the National Health Care Leadership Development Program Class of 2015.
Scientific Activities
Enhancing Veteran Safety by Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection, 10/01/12 - 09/30/15, Enhance the safety of patients by promoting the safe and appropriate use of urinary catheters.
Timeline
Associate Director Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer - Nurse V
VA ILLIANA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
03.2016 - 02.2024
Deputy, Associate Director Patient Care Services - Nurse IV
RICHARD L. ROUDEBUSH VAMC
06.2014 - 03.2016
VISN 11 Quality Management Officer- Nurse V
VISN 11 NETWORK OFFICE
04.2012 - 06.2014
VISN 11 Deputy Quality Management Officer - GS 14
VISN 11 NETWORK OFFICE
11.2008 - 04.2012
MASTER OF SCIENCE - Health Services Administration
University of St. Francis
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - Nursing
University of Illinois
DIPLOMA IN NURSING - Nursing
Lakeview College of Nursing
LEAN HEALTHCARE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM -
University of Michigan - College of Engineering