SURGERY SCHEDULING NEWSLETTER
QUARTER I 2025
NOT FOR EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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GET TO KNOW YOUR SURGERY SCHEDULERS
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SURGERY SCHEDULING TEAM
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2025 GOALS AND INITIATIVES
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DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
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GET TO KNOW YOUR SURGERY SCHEDULERS
GRETCHEN MORALES
Since 2006 I’ve been excited to work for Kaiser Permanente. I began my journey in Surgery Scheduling in 2012. I place a high value in teamwork. With experience across multiple departments within Surgery Scheduling, I continuously seek and embrace new challenges. In my personal time, I enjoy traveling and spending quality time with family.
As I approach my two-year mark as the Supervisor of Surgery Scheduling team, I’m proud of the strides our team has made and the ongoing improvements we have implemented to streamline our processes and enhance patient care. It’s been a rewarding journey watching our department grow and succeed. Today I’d like to take a moment to introduce two of our dedicated surgery schedulers: Deedra Alaniz and Gretchen Morales. They’ll be sharing a bit about themselves so you can get to know the amazing people behind the work they do. Moving forward, each quarter’s Surgery Scheduling Newsletter we will be highlighting different members of our scheduling team-offering insight into who they are, how long they’ve been with Kaiser Permanente, and the unique value they bring to our department. A WORD FROM THE DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR
DEEDRA ALANIZ With two decades of dedicated service to Kaiser Permanente, I have spent the previous 14 years specializing in Surgery Scheduling. My role has allowed me to collaborate closely with providers, staff and patients, fostering strong professional relationships. I am known for my hard work, energy and enthusiasm for challenges. I consistently strive to enhance my knowledge and efficiency. Outside of work, I cherish baking treats for my granddaughter, engaging in various crafts, and spending quality time with my family.
JULIE ANN GUERRERO Administrative Supervisor of Surgery Scheduling Respectfully,
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SURGERY SCHEDULING TEAM
Wendyanne Jex Director of Managerial Consulting
Dr. Mon-Lai Cheung PIC of Surgery Scheduling
Leticia Cervantes Senior Consulting Manager
Julie Guerrero Administrative Supervisor
Darra Hinton Surgery Scheduling Clerk
Deedra Alaniz Surgery Scheduling Clerk
Heather Holloway Surgery Scheduling Clerk
Marilyn Ledesma Surgery Scheduling Clerk
Gretchen Morales Surgery Scheduling Clerk
Katrina Thompson Surgery Scheduling Clerk
Elisa Yepez Surgery Scheduling Clerk
Ryan Tyree Surgery Scheduling Clerk
New Scheduler starting 3/31
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2025 GOALS AND INITIATIVES
Surgery scheduling onsite weekly Surgery scheduling 360 communication to specialty departments: Surgery scheduling outages & block optimization
Communication
Local data site for all Surgery scheduling metrics Monthly release of Surgical service line data
Data
Surgery scheduling partnership with BSSC and AHB Subcommittee meetings set with BSSC and AHB to review data and surgical block releases
Partnership
Service training offsite Surgery scheduling process mapping
Training
EAP training offsite Weekly in-person huddle UBT projects specific to Surgery Scheduling improvement processes
Team Building
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DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Progress on Backlog Reduction We are proud to share that our surgery scheduling department has received recognition from upper leadership for significant progress in reducing our surgical case backlog. Previously we had multiple surgical departments at 25 wait weeks, the backlog has now improved to a range of 13-24 wait weeks. This reduction is a testament to the team’s dedication, strategic scheduling efforts, and commitment to improving patient access and care delivery. The surgery scheduling will continue working hard to build on this momentum.
The surgery scheduling department implemented a new phone tree system through Cisco Finesse, giving each department its own direct line to their surgery schedulers. This enhancement improves communication efficiency and ensures that patients are quickly connected to the appropriate department. Additionally, A dedicated MD line has been established to further streamline provider communication and support timely coordination of care. Activation of Phone Tree for Improved Communication
Main Line – 661-852-3637 MD Line (not to be given to patients) 661-852-3639
Timely Surgical Case Scheduling
Increased Surgical Utilization
We’re excited to report that 75%-80% of surgical cases are now being scheduled within three business days of the case being built by providers. This level of efficiency is a major achievement, especially in the absence of a regional guideline. Kern County is proudly setting the expectation for timely surgical scheduling across the region. This accomplishment underscores our commitment to streamlined workflows and high standards of care coordination.
In alignment with our ongoing efforts to reduce the surgical case backlog, the surgery scheduling team as seen a positive impact on surgical utilization. As the backlog has decreased, surgical utilization has increased-reflecting more efficient use of OR time and improved patient throughput. This improvement demonstrates how our focused strategies are not only reducing wait times but also optimizing available resources for better overall performance.
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