Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1263239
W ith over 18 years of nursing expe- rience at Kaiser Permanente, including being a part of the Santa Cruz County team since our arrival here in 2017, Pelita Sanchez has always been a hardworking leader provid- ing exceptional care for our members and the commu- nities she has served. That commitment to care has carried forward over the past several months as we have been fighting the battle against COVID-19. Working primarily out of our Scotts Valley clinic but stepping in to help at both our Watson- ville and Santa Cruz clinics as needed, Pelita has contin- ued to demonstrate leader- ship during this challenging time. In early March, when Kaiser Permanente stood up our COVID-19 testing in Scotts Valley, Pelita was the first to volunteer to test mem- bers that arrived at the site. During this very dynamic period, she put herself in a position to deliver timely care to those that needed it the most. Her commitment to serve in this capacity has carried on to the present day as she can still be found at our testing center regularly. Pelita has been instrumental in refining our workflows so we can safely test the most patients possible per day. On a regular basis she sug- gests improvements to pro- tocols, enabling us to best serve members, while also focusing on the safety, com- fort, and well-being of our staff members. Her sugges- tions have proved valuable and effective time and again. Another area where Pelita has shined during this dif- ficult time has been through her research and promotion of safety tips to her fellow colleagues. She has taken on the role of an informal safety leader bringing up and help- ing to implement best prac- tices that have been proven effective in other Kaiser Permanente clinics, hospi- tals and offices. She always speaks up making things more streamlined, safer and effective. "Pelita is a true leader for us and is greatly appreciated by our patients, our physicians, and all of our team." shared Lora Glasgow, Pelita's supervisor and a nursing manager for Kai- ser Permanente Santa Cruz County. "Pelita is strongly committed to providing heartfelt, personalized care for our members and she also keeps her focus on the well-being of her colleagues. These attributes make her a very special member of our team." "Long ago when I became a nurse, I knew that I wanted to help people and serve my community," added Pelita Sanchez when told she would be recognized for this article. "Working in Santa Cruz County during this global pandemic has made me proud to work for Kaiser Permanente with all the in- novative strategies we have put in place to serve our members. With the stream- line drive-thru testing, we have facilitated the process for both our members and our team of nurses, medical assistants and our lab. Wak- ing up each morning know- ing that we have a great team and a very gracious community makes my job both rewarding and gratify- ing." On behalf of Kaiser Per- manente Santa Cruz County, thank you Pelita for your hard work and commitment to our members and the community! Kaiser Permanente Nurse Provides Experience, Compassion and Leadership During Pandemic Response Contributed by the Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz County Team