Senior Vice President
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Seattle, WA
Senior Vice President, Hospital Administrator and Chief Nursing Officer at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Ms. Tachibana is responsible for leadership and professional nursing practice of more than 900 nurses. Her work includes leading systematic changes to improve processes and increase the amount of direct care time nurses spend with patients through the application of the Toyota Production System to healthcare. This has included a focus on reducing the burden of work, improving workspaces, enhancing work environments, and designing efficient and safe care delivery processes. She has lectured and consulted internationally on application of the principles and methods of the Toyota Production System to healthcare. Ms. Tachibana serves as past president and member of the Northwest Organization of Nursing Executives Board of Directors. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Washington State Hospital Association as well as the Washington State Health Work Force Institute. Her work with this board has involved the development of sustainable public/private partnerships to expand programs to recruit, develop and retain qualified health care workers. In addition, she serves as Assistant Dean for Clinical Nursing Practice at the University of Washington School of Nursing and clinical faculty for the University of Washington Bothell. She was awarded the first Authentic Leadership Award by Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives (2008) and the Outstanding Nursing Alumni Award from Pacific Lutheran University (2008).