Contact: Dawn O'Polka 509-837-1543
(Yakima, WA) - Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center (YRMCC), a Regional Health Affiliate is pleased to announce that Sara Williamson, MSN, NEA-BC, FACHE, will join our executive team as the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) October 2, 2017.
Ms. Williamson most recently worked for Community Health of Central Washington as the Chief Quality and Privacy Officer where her team’s highlights included NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home Level 3 Recognition for five clinics, HRSA Operational Site Visit w/no conditions in Quality/Peer Review, Risk or Credentialing, and three HRSA Quality Grants from $77,257 – $122,988 along with & Colorectal Cancer Screening and Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative – Pediatrics grants. Additionally, she facilitated Quality Improvement/Patient Safety initiative and rotations for Family Practice Residency program and was a member to the Graduate Medical Education committee.
Ms. Williamson previously worked as the CNO for YRMCC from 2010-2014 with impressive accomplishments that include; the implementation of a Single Stay Open Heart Unit, Achieved Mission Lifeline STEMI accreditation (one of only fifty hospitals in the nation to receive this), direct oversight and leadership for all nursing services, education, the Cath Lab, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Anesthesia, and the Therapy Departments, and the hospital’s Trauma, Cardiac, Open Heart and Stroke certifications and accreditations.
“To say I am thrilled to be joining the staff at Yakima Regional is an understatement! Whether one thinks of this hospital as Saint Elizabeth’s, Providence, or Yakima Regional, one is always reminded of its prestigious history as having Yakima’s finest medical and nursing staff, working together to provide excellence in patient care. With this 126 year legacy as the foundation, I am excited to be part of a team that will bring that same excellence back to Yakima again. It really is a new day and a fresh start. I am eager to be a part of it!” said Sara Williamson.
Ms. Williamson received her Masters of Science, Nursing Administration degree from the University of Texas, Health Science Center at San Antonio. She received her Bachelor of Science, Nursing, from the University of Texas at Austin with high honors, and her Hospital Administration Certification from the University of Dallas.
“It’s great news to announce Sara is rejoining our team at Yakima Regional. I’ve worked with Sara for many years and I’ve witnessed firsthand her proven track record in acute care operations, risk, quality and regulatory compliance in the medical services industry. She has strong analytical strengths and supervisory skills that will be a tremendous asset for us as we strengthen and grow our service lines and medical facility,” said Rich Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center.
Ms. Williamson holds many honors and distinctions including; a finalist New Mexico Distinguished Nurse Award, 2010, NMONE Faust Award for Excellence in Nursing Leadership, 2004, New Mexico Nurse of the Year Award in Nursing Management, 2003, Nurse Executive, Advanced – ANCC Board Certified , and Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives.