Launched in 2016, the MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award recognizes individuals or teams in member hospitals who proactively voice concerns to prevent harm, promoting communication that enhances patient and staff safety.
Launched in March 2016, the MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award is designed to acknowledge the efforts of individuals or teams within MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety Organization hospitals who speak-up to prevent potential harm to patients or other staff members. The award not only represents a volitional voicing of concerns by one or more people, but is a tool through which one may eliminate preventable harm caused by miscommunication and non-communication. The MHA Keystone Center Speak-up Award is an adaptation of the Minnesota Hospital Association’s Good Catch for Patient Safety Award.
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Quarter 2:
Quarter 3:
Quarter 4:
All nominations will be reviewed in a two-step process by a workgroup comprised of patient safety and quality improvement leaders.
Evaluation in this stage allows for a possible 70/100 points. Based on the nominations received and the total points accumulated in the individual nomination evaluation process, the subcommittee will select a quarterly MHA Speak-up! Award recipient.
MHA Keystone Speak-up! Award recipients will be notified individually. Quarterly award recipients will receive an MHA Keystone Speak-up! Award certificate. If approved by the awardee’s organization, the MHA Keystone Center will arrange for an onsite recognition event. Award recipients will also be recognized below under Past Winners and in other official MHA communications.
All quarterly MHA Keystone Speak-up! Award recipients will be eligible for recognition at the annual MHA Safety and Quality Symposium. The MHA Keystone Center Board of Directors subcommittee will review quarterly award recipients in a calendar year and select one for recognition at the annual symposium.
Ali Daoud, MD, McLaren Oakland
Camryn Smith and Alicia Evans, Trinity Health IHA Medical Group
Stephanie Brimfield, Henry Ford West Bloomfield
Rachel Heise, RN, McLaren Greater Lansing
Runners Up:
Season Willi, RN, BSN, Bronson Battle Creek Hospital
Courtney Baumann, RN, Corewell Health Trenton Hospital
Ronald Patterson, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow
Melissa Burgess, RN, McLaren Port Huron Hospital
Jennie Lynn, RN, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital
Joni Hunter & Dorothy Zsenyuk, RN, Trinity Health IHA Medical Group
Dragan Spremo, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
Kathleen Kiedrowski, Corewell Health Wayne Hospital
Cheryl Kay, BSN, Sparrow Hospital
Laura Smith, RN, MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena
Tracie Eigemann, R.T.(R)(CT), Trinity Health St Mary Mercy Livonia
Courtney Meagher, RN, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
Beth Bedra, ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital
Deann Crawford and Zeena Husain, Henry Ford Allegiance Health
Jennifer Brandt, emergency department registered nurse, Sparrow Hospital
Winner: Kelsey Moran, a certified nursing assistant at War Memorial Hospital
Winner: Mozella Horton-Peters, an environmental services employee at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital
Winner:Â Audra Carlson, a patient transporter at Henry Ford Allegiance Health
Winner: Renee Evans, RN, a clinical nurse at Beaumont Hospital
Winner: Erin Warman, Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital
Winner: Amanda Livingston, Eaton Rapids Medical Center
Winner: Dale Werner, RTR, OSF Healthcare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group
Winner: Megan VanDam, RN, BSN, Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital
Winners: Kelly Chiles, RN, and Naomi Coates, RN, University of Michigan Health System
Winner:Â Dawn Willoughby, RN, Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital
Annual Winner: Crystal Watson, RN, and Lori Engler, RN, Spectrum Health Lakeland Hospital Niles
Winners:Â Eryn Glerum and Stephanie Pratt, Bronson Battle Creek Hospital
Winners: Pennye Hinz and Rebecca Brand, BSN, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital, Newberry
Winners: Crystal Watson, RN, and Lori Engler, RN, Lakeland Hospital Niles
Winner:Â Natalie Nowak, St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital
Annual Winner:Â Kassandra Gauna, RN, Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital
Winner: Danielle Gebolys, BSN, Beaumont Hospital, Dearborn
Winner:Â Kassandra Gauna, RN, Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital
Winner:Â Jennifer Ludwig, RN, Sparrow Hospital
Winner: Gaiti Bakhsh, DO, Beaumont Health, Taylor
Annual Winner:Â Seth Raymond, DO, Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo
Winner: Karen Kazyak, RN, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak
Winner: Kristi Tyler, Beaumont Health, Taylor
Winner: Seth Raymond, DO, Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo
Who can be nominated?
Any healthcare staff member employed at an MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety Organization (PSO) hospital can be nominated. This award is founded on the principle of transdisciplinary teamwork; everyone has the right to be concerned and everyone has the right to speak up.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes, you may nominate yourself, though we will require another contact at your facility to verify the authenticity of the event.
Can patients and families be nominated?
No, not at this time. This award is focused on acknowledging the efforts of healthcare staff members.
How many times can I nominate an individual or team?
You can nominate the same individual or team multiple times, but it must be for a different event. If two nominations are submitted for the same event, we will reach out to the contacts listed in the nomination forms to work with each nominator.
Is there a limit on the number of nominees from each hospital?
Due to the large number of nominations each quarter, there will be a limit of one award finalist per organization, per quarter. All organizations and staff are still encouraged to nominate as many individuals as they would like, though only one nominee will move into the finalist pool per quarter.
When is a nominee selected to receive the award?
Final selections will take place in the middle month of each quarter (February, April, June, etc.). The annual award recipient for a given year will be selected in February the following year. Annual recipients will be recognized at the MHA Patient Safety & Quality Symposium.
Can a nominee receive this award even if information about the event is withheld?
Yes, though we do encourage you to submit as much information as possible, we realize that certain information is sensitive.
Will any of our information be published?
We would like to share your speak-up story in a de-identified manner if possible, but will always respect the wishes of you and your organization. None of the details of the event within your nomination form will be published unless otherwise approved by both you and your organization.
Phone: (517) 703-8601
Fax: (517) 703-0628
