In her first 90 days, Silje Kennedy is focused on listening, strengthening surgical operations and partnering with physicians and teams to expand access to care.
SOUTH PUGET SOUND – As Silje Kennedy, RN, marks her first 90 days as Senior Director of Surgical Services, she is spending time listening, learning and looking closely at opportunities to strengthen surgical care across Centralia and St. Peter hospitals.
“The first 90 days have been great,” Silje said. “It has been busy, and I have been learning and observing a lot. There are many good things happening in surgical services in Centralia and at St. Peter, and I also see opportunities for growth within the department.”
One early area of focus has been sterile processing. Silje has spent significant time with the sterile processing team to better understand current workflows, reorganize support, increase staffing and ensure the right processes are in place. That work is already making a difference.
“We have seen great improvements, and more will come,” she said.
Silje said what has impressed her most is the dedication of the frontline surgical services caregivers. She sees a team that wants to grow, be part of building solutions and continue expanding access to high-quality surgical care for our communities.
“We provide amazing care, and we have the opportunity to care for more people in our communities,” Silje said. “The teams at both hospitals want to see growth and be part of the creation.”
A key priority moving forward will be making sure the right patient is in the right place at the right time. That includes looking at strategies to use the Surgical Center in the Emilie Gamelin Pavilion at St. Peter more effectively, allowing the main operating rooms to remain focused on the sickest and most complex patients.
Silje and the team also will continue exploring enhanced recovery after surgery, or ERAS, protocols to help patients recover more quickly and safely while improving length of stay. Another opportunity is to route more appropriate patients through the Surgical Admissions and Discharge Unit, or SADU, to improve throughput and help preserve capacity for patients who need the highest level of hospital-based care.
For medical staff and physicians, Silje hopes this work supports smoother processes, better coordination and continued partnership across the surgical continuum. She plans to remain visible and accessible as the work moves forward.
“I’ll work on getting to know the team more, building trust and supporting growth,” she said. “The team should expect to see me out and about more. I am a great listener, and I want to help build solutions. I pride myself on creating an environment of kindness, and I already see that here.”
