By Pete Mercer
Kelly Peterson is the Director of Operations for Cardinal Health’s medical products distribution center in Dixon, California, where she and her team are responsible for receiving, storing, and shipping medical products to more than 160 hospitals and healthcare facilities across northern California.
Peterson has worked in healthcare distribution for 12 years now. She said, “Supply chain may operate behind the scenes, but the work we do helps ensure patients have access to the medical products and supplies vital to their care. It gives me and our broader team a true sense of purpose knowing a patient is counting on us every day.”
Seeing a direct impact
It’s one thing to see how your work is impacting patients, but it’s completely different to have that firsthand experience yourself. In 2017, Peterson was in the hospital preparing to welcome her first son into the world. As she looked around, she realized that Cardinal Health products were stocked throughout the room.
“For years, I had talked with my teams about how our work affects patients, but at that moment, it became very personal. The products that moved through our distribution centers were now supporting my own care during one of the most important moments of my life.”
This moment reinforced that what she does at Cardinal Health is so much more than simply moving inventory from one space to another. Peterson said, “Behind every shipment is a patient, a family, and a healthcare provider depending on us.”
It starts with people
As for why she’s passionate about her work, Peterson said, “It always starts with people. I’m passionate about creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and connected to our mission.” Peterson leads a team of more than 300 people who come to work every day knowing that their efforts help support patient care.
She works to create a space where her employees feel respected and excited to come to work, knowing that she and her team are there to support and serve their own community’s healthcare needs. While every day might look different in healthcare supply chain, she wants to ensure that her team has everything they need to effectively service healthcare providers.
“When employees enjoy coming to work and understand the impact they have on healthcare, it creates a stronger team and better outcomes for our customers. Seeing our people succeed is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.”