Women in Business 2014: Rebecca La Londe, Kaiser Permanente

NBBJSTAFF

June 23, 2014

Area quality leader, Kaiser Permanente, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 707- 393-4508, mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/facilities/region/santarosa/area_master/home/

Age: 62

Residence: Healdsburg

Professional background: Kaiser Permanente: area quality leader, 2004--present; medical center compliance officer, 2004--2006; quality/utilization management site director, 1999--2004; Sonoma State University: Nursing Department faculty; Sutter Health/VNA & Hospice of Northern California: director of organizational improvement and regional director, 1996--1999; Columbia HealthCare Hospitals: chief clinical officer, Healdsburg General and Palm Drive Hospitals, 1994--1996, director of Home Health and Home Respiratory Services, 1984--1994

[caption id="attachment_94224" align="alignright" width="245"] Rebecca La Londe[/caption]

Leadership Experience: Board of directors for Healdsburg General Hospital, Home Hospice of Sonoma County, American Cancer Society, Northern California Center of Well-Being, Family Residency Consortium and Redwood Empire Food Bank. Leadership Santa Rosa, Class XXIV.

Staff: Currently, I supervise a staff of 20, but our total staff for Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa is 2,450.

Tell us about yourself and your company: At Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa, we are delighted and privileged to provide health care to the approximately 150,000 Kaiser Permanente members in Sonoma County. As their Area Quality Leader, I have the honor of working closely with an extremely dedicated, knowledgeable and competent group of healthcare professional in meeting our goal of providing the highest level of quality care and patient-centered service. As a member of the Santa Rosa Medical Center’s Leadership Team I have the responsibility for strategic development, planning and implementation of the medical center’s performance improvement, quality, patient safety, and accreditation programs and have served on the team for 15 years.

Is there a major accomplishment in the past year or so that you would like to share?: Since 2008 Kaiser Permanente has implemented dozens of program that have improved our clinical quality, patient safety, and patient care experience. Our leaders, physicians, and other healthcare professionals have worked hard to transform care by leveraging our integrated model, cutting-edge technology, evidence-based medicine, clinical excellence and research. The results of our efforts have reduced the risk of dying from heart disease by 30%, lowered the chance of experiencing a stroke by 10%, and saved lives by reducing the mortality for patients with sepsis by 40%. In the last year we received the highest rating for member satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associate, achieved an “A” grade for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group, and accomplished a 5-Star rating from Medicare.

What is the achievement you are most proud of?: The achievement that I am most proud of is the work we have done in reducing the chance of dying from infections or sepsis. As one of the leader sponsors for the program, it has been a source of pride to know that we are savings lives every day by having highly effective and reliable systems for early diagnosis and treatment. Through the efforts of our physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals we now have one of the lowest mortality rates for sepsis in the nation. On a personal level, I am so grateful we have this program and only wish it had been available many years ago when my husband almost died from sepsis. I often think about the lives we have saved and how much those patients mean to their families and loved ones.

What is your biggest challenge today?: This is a historical point in time for all health care organizations, and the urgency to transform care and the cost of care has never been so intense. Fortunately for Kaiser Permanente we are able to leverage our integrated system to ensure the best possible care by focusing on prevention, evidence-based medicine when illness does occur, and clinical excellence. We continue to work on affordability by providing the highest quality of care and delivering care at the most appropriate and patient-convenient setting. In response to health care reform, we are well-positioned to lead the way in transforming the care delivery system from one that emphases illness to one that values wellness.

Words that best describe you: Authentic, dedicated, creative, caring, strategic, life-long learner.

As a successful female professional, what were the biggest obstacles you faced and how did you overcome them?: Early on in my healthcare career there were very few women in leadership positions and the opportunity for advancement was limited to jobs traditionally held by females. I knew I wanted more options so when I returned to college for my Master’s degree, I pursued a MBA. Completing the MBA program at Sonoma State University was one of the best decisions I could have made in building my career. It gave me the business acumen to better understand how to run a successful organization; it exposed me to different types of industries, and helped me think about healthcare in a whole new way. My favorite course, and the one I found most useful, was “Creativity in Business.” It was the class that taught me how to be a better leader.

How do you think your profession will change in the next five years?: Healthcare professionals are already experiencing rapid change in the way they deliver care and this will only intensify as they deal with the changes required by Healthcare Reform. The difference now is that there will be much more transparency and public reports on the quality and the cost of care. To embrace this new environment, healthcare professionals will need to move away from the traditional episodic, fee-for-service care model to more of a focus on population care management.

Who was your most important mentor?: I have several individuals who have served as mentors and have played a significant role in helping me throughout my career. One of my professional mentors is the former CEO of Smith-Kline, Henry Wendt. Even though he was the executive of a large international company, he always treated everyone, no matter their social position, with gracious, kindness, and caring. In business, he was clear about what he valued, compassionate about doing the right thing, and benevolent even when the situation required a difficult decision. My other trusted counselor is my husband. Without his support, wisdom, and guidance, I would not have returned to school nor had the confidence to pursue different leadership opportunities.

What advice would you give to a young woman entering your profession or the work world today?: The one piece of advice would be to know what’s important to you, always stay true to what you value, and never compromise. If you’re successful in staying focused on your values, at the end of your career, you will have no regrets. For me, I value family and having a strong community connection. I made every career decision on how it would impact my family and whether or not it was worth leaving my community. I was fortunate enough to be able to create a great career right here in Sonoma County.

Most admired businessperson outside your organization: I’m especially interested in social entrepreneurs and admire the CEO of Social Venture Network, Deb Nelson. The focus of the organization is on creating environmentally responsible businesses and providing resources for social entrepreneurs. Current reading: Appreciative Leadership by Diana Whitney. I am fascinated with the power of positive thinking.

Most want to meet: Elon Musk.

Stress relievers: Exercise is the best way for me to relax. When the weather allows, I swim laps every day after work. I also find hiking and spending time with family as a great way to unwind.