Stanford hospital appoints VP for clinical services

Nancy Lee

Stanford Hospital & Clinics has announced the appointment of Nancy Lee as vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer, effective April 13. She succeeds Cindy Day, who retired in August.

Lee served as vice president for clinical services from 2002 to 2007 and was responsible for operations and business services between the School of Medicine and SHC. Since then, she has held positions as vice president for transformation and vice president for operations.

'We are very fortunate to have someone with Nancy's track record and experience at Stanford assume this next level of leadership at such a critical time,' said chief operating officer Daniel Ginsburg.

The hospital has a full-time equivalent registered nursing staff of 1,395, and the American Nurses Credential Center granted it 'Magnet' status - the group's highest award of excellence - for its nursing practice and patient care in 2007. At that time, only about 4 percent of all health-care organizations in the United States had achieved such recognition; SHC was one of 11 hospitals in California to earn the designation.

'Achieving Magnet status was a very significant accomplishment,' Lee said. 'However, it is one aspect of a continuing journey toward excellence. We have a tremendous opportunity to go to the next level by combining outstanding service with Stanford's ongoing commitment to quality and clinical outcomes.'

To achieve that goal, Lee said, SHC recently established a nursing research department that supports evidence-based-practice fellowships that translate research into nursing practice. The hospital has also launched a patient resource council, giving patients the chance to have input on a wide range of service and support issues. Resource council members, for instance, are providing a patient perspective to the design team working on the new $2.5 billion, 600-bed Stanford Hospital to be located adjacent to the existing site at the medical center.

'Patient experience is a very high priority for us today and is central to our planning of the new hospital,' Lee added. 'Nursing and patient care services have a major impact on that experience and need to have a greater voice as both a partner and collaborator with medical staff.'

Stanford Hospital chief of staff Bryan Bohman, MD, said Lee's understanding of what the medical staff does and needs is extensive. 'She is in a great position to bring the physicians and nursing staff together to continue improving the quality of patient care at Stanford,' he said.