Christopher Stokes, MD, chief of Outpatient Quality and PHASE (Preventing Heart Attacks and Strokes Everyday) at KP North Valley, is an exceptional leader, widely respected for his clarity, empathy, and (often humorous) stories, which make complex quality concepts relatable and inspiring.
A TPMG Adult and Family Medicine physician since 2003, Dr. Stokes served in numerous leadership positions at KP North Valley, a widespread area that includes Sacramento and Roseville. Under Dr. Stokes’s leadership, KP North Valley tripled its Crossing the Quality Chasm (CQC) metrics and established new benchmarks for quality care, achieving or sustaining 12 of 25 quality metrics at goal and improving 9 of 25 metrics year over year.
Through innovative, cross-departmental problem-solving, he delivered the service area’s first-ever quality goal attainments in colorectal cancer screening, hypertension, adolescent vaccination, depression monitoring and response, and smoking cessation; as well as its highest-ever performance in diabetes A1C control, hypertension control, and depression care.
“I have four sons and coach high school flag football and basketball,” Dr. Stokes says. “The most important thing is to put your team in a place where they can be successful, with an executable strategy and game plan. And if it’s not working, then you have to listen, learn why, and adjust.”