Kellie Stajer, RN, BScN, MHS
Kelowna,BC
Summary
Established healthcare leader with 15+ years experience leading healthcare teams and advocating for person and family centered care.
Passion for making healthcare better for patients and healthcare providers.
Unwavering commitment to delivering exemplary care and improving patient outcomes through evidence based practice and continuous quality improvement mechanisms.
Career has focused on building high performing teams by establishing a vibrant and inclusive workplace culture and by creating professional development opportunities for staff.
Integrity based leadership style - valuing collaboration, respect, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Background includes broad experience in strategic and operational leadership roles across complex academic and community health organizations.
Extensive clinical and professional practice experience with a major focus on quality and engagement of patients, families and healthcare professionals.
Clinical expertise includes obstetrics, pediatrics and NICU.
Organizational expertise includes Accreditation preparation, ANCC Magnet Hospital designation and project management, and engagement of patients and families
Consistent track record of achieving ambitious program goals with extensive experience navigating teams through change.
Passionate about engaging patients, families and health care teams to
codesign health care programs and services that truly meet the needs of patients and also contribute to joy at work for healthcare professionals.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Healthcare Consultant and Project Specialist
Kellie Stajer Consulting
Kelowna, BC
03.2022 - Current
- Providing expert consultation and project management support to healthcare organizations including Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario.
- Secured funding for Baby Friendly nursing education program through business case proposal to VP clinical
- Improved BORN (Better Outcomes Registry & Network) data submission from 20% to 91% by optimizing EMR and documentation practices
- Increased Medication Reconciliation completion from 28% to 65%
Director Program Planning & Performance, WIH
Sinai Health System, Women's & Infants' Health
Toronto, ON
05.2018 - 03.2022
- Accountable for overall quality, safety and performance of one of the largest high-risk obstetric and neonatal centers in Canada with more than 7200 births/year
- Led team through ANCC MAGNET re-designation (2021) and Accreditation Canada assessment (2022)
- Redesigned Quality Program to cultivate just and transparent culture, with increased reporting of safety events and safer care
- Optimized formal process for review of patient safety incidents using root cause analysis framework including mechanism for developing recommendations with an action & sustainability plan and reporting to the Corporate Quality of Care Committee
- Developed multiple policies, procedures and educational roll-outs and communication strategies - including moderate surge and redirect protocols.
- Led and co-led a multitude of projects including establishing Center of Excellence for Obstetric care with COVID-19 illness, implementing The Ontario Fetal Center, expanding NICU bed capacity, Restructuring NRP program, opening and closing units with patient decants and complex infrastructure
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, led team in matters relating to new infection prevention and control measures, outbreak mitigation, human health resource strategy, training and support of redeployed and unregulated healthcare providers, implementing novel models of care delivery, establishing alternate healthcare provider roles and establishing partnerships for community care follow-up
- Modernized quarterly review of Performance Score cards such that quality, operational and financial metrics were reviewed and actioned in timely fashion
- Developed business cases to advocate for increased capital and human resources
- Illuminated level of risk associated with proposed interventions by employing risk register tool to assist in executive decision making
- Orchestrated quality improvement exercises and events to improve the patient experience, streamline processes and improve staff satisfaction (e.g. process mapping, PDSA, LEAN)
- Provided senior leadership to Baby Friendly Implementation project and three year national BFI Collaborative Quality Improvement project
- Active member of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
- Established and chaired the Patient and Family Advisory Council and supported Family integrated Care Program
Patient Care Manager
Markham Stouffville Hospital
Markham, ON
05.2016 - 05.2018
- Managed NICU and Paediatric Services (inpatient and ambulatory) and provided shared oversight of Childbirth and Children's Center (Labour and Delivery, Antenatal, Postpartum)
- Transformed team experiencing low morale to inspired and high functioning team through engagement, commitment to individual professional development and shared goal setting. Staff satisfaction scores improved by 22% and patients satisfaction scores improved by 6%. Staff absenteeism and inter-team conflicts substantially reduced
- Fostered high-quality performance through investment in interprofessional education program, engagement of nurse champions, leadership training for point of care nurses, team visioning and goal setting exercises, inclusive of point-of -care staff and and patient advisors and continuous quality improvement strategies
- Collaborated to establish first community partnership with Kids Health Alliance, partnership with Hospital for Sick Children and others to share pediatric evidence based practices and policies and improve transition across care settings
- Implemented Paediatric Early Warning Signs (PEWS) in first Canadian community hospital setting
- Established Infant Security System
- Implemented Quality Based Procedure for Tonsillectomy and decreased length of stay by 8.5 hrs
- Established pediatric ambulatory clinic comprised of eight subspecialty clinics
- Wrote successful funding proposal to have nine pediatric spaces renovated by Smilezone
Professional Practice Leader, NICU and Paediatric Services
Markham Stouffville Hospital
Markham, ON
05.2009 - 05.2016
- Re-designed corporate preceptorship/mentoring model for nursing and allied professionals with pre and post implementation survey demonstrating improved experience for both learners and preceptors with groups feeling supported respectively 86% and 89%
- Developed Professional Development and Recognition Program to engage and motivate staff to pursue ongoing professional development, to equip nurses with skills to progress their careers, and to recognize achievements with end goal of supporting and retaining nursing staff
- Developed and implemented corporate educational initiatives (e.g. general hospital orientation, falls prevention, escalation of care, emergency code response)
- Developed and implemented unit based educational initiatives and resources (e.g. NICU and pediatric orientation and ongoing training, management of obstetrical emergencies, postpartum intervention for newborn hypoglycemia and hyperbilirubinemia)
- Supported MOREOB program, interprofessional simulation and Mock Codes
- Developed and endorsed policies & procedures, medial directives and standardized order sets to support high quality patient care
- Ensured evidence based practices were in effect through regular review of literature, benchmarking, auditing and provision of feedback and performance management
RN, Cardiology Unit/ICU and Emergency Department
Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, ON
04.1991 - 02.2008
- Provided pre and post surgical nursing care to children with congenital heart disease on paediatric cardiac unit and ICU. Responsibilities included infusion of inotropes, management of chest tubes, external pace makers, arterial lines, wound care and provision of family centered care, support and teaching
- Delivered triage assessment, resuscitation and trauma care to children and their families in ED.
- Supervised and coordinated unit activity in charge nurse role
- Co-chaired education council, facilitating unit based onboarding and education
- Co-established Family Centered Care Committee to engage families in sharing their experiences and enhancing hospital experience for children and their families
Education
Master Health Studies -
Athabasca University
Athabasca, AB2016
Natural Nutrition - Registered Holistic Nutritionist
Canadian School of Natural Nutrition
Toronto, ON2012
Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing Program -
George Brown College
Toronto, ON1996
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON1991
Skills
- Strategizing and establishing new programs and services to optimize access to safe, high-quality care that is timely and effective
- Inspiring individual and organizational excellence and creating shared vision to attain strategic priorities
- Creating positive organizational climate built on mutual trust, transparency, and focus on service improvement that encourages teamwork, creativity, and innovation
- Ethical decision making and social accountability with focus on cultural sensitivity, diversity, equity, inclusion and responsibility to patient, and community
- Professional practice expertise including scope of practice, skill mix, resource allocation, coaching and mentoring, preceptorship and professional development
- Astute business acumen, evaluating performance metrics, forecasting, budgeting and utilizing data to inform program decisions
- End to end project management
- Continuous Quality Improvement and systems thinking
- ACCREDITATION CANADA coordination and MAGNET designation expertise
Certification
San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, Sept 2022, no expiry date
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) 2019
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) 2018
Comprehensive Neonatal Review and NICU Certification Preparation, NICU Solutions, 2012
Recognized as MSH Hero, Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation, Healthy Together publication, Fall/Winter 2018
*Additional Training
-EPIQ Quality Improvement Training Workshop, 2019
-Healthcare Financial Management and Budgeting, OHA, 2019
-Emerging Leaders Program, Markham Stouffville Hospital, 2018
-Teaching for Learning and Collaboration, University of Toronto, 2018
-Managing Healthy Teams, Workshop, Canadian Mental Health Association, 2017
-Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training, 2016
-SOFFI (Supporting Oral feeding in Fragile Infants), Sunnybrook Health Sciences 2-day Workshop, 2014
-Best Practice Champions Network Workshop, RNAO, 2012
-Designing and Delivering Effective Educational Programs, RNAO, 2011
-Perinatal Bereavement Sensitivity Training, 2011
*Conferences
-EPIQ Annual 2-day conferences 2019 (ON), 2020 (AB), 2021 (virtual)
-ANCC Magnet 3-day Conference, 2019, Orlando Florida
-Critical Care Services Ontario, System Strategy Guiding Regional Solutions, 2018, 2019
-Sick Kids Annual PEM 2-day Conference, 2016, 2017, 2018
-Sick Kids Annual T4 Health Neonatology Conference: Triage, Transport, Treatment and Transition, 2017, 2018
-SIM Expo, 2015
-Presenter, Diabetes Canada Professional Conference, 2014
*Volunteer work
-Registered nurse at Muskoka Woods Summer Camp, one week per summer, 2010-2015. Provided first aid, illness management and medication administration to campers and staff.
Timeline
Healthcare Consultant and Project Specialist
Kellie Stajer Consulting
03.2022 - Current
Director Program Planning & Performance, WIH
Sinai Health System, Women's & Infants' Health
05.2018 - 03.2022
Patient Care Manager
Markham Stouffville Hospital
05.2016 - 05.2018
Professional Practice Leader, NICU and Paediatric Services
Markham Stouffville Hospital
05.2009 - 05.2016
RN, Cardiology Unit/ICU and Emergency Department
Hospital for Sick Children
04.1991 - 02.2008
Master Health Studies -
Athabasca University
Natural Nutrition - Registered Holistic Nutritionist
Canadian School of Natural Nutrition
Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing Program -
George Brown College
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Toronto