Tag: safety and quality

Trinity Health Michigan Team Members Recognized with MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award

Patient Safety and Quality, Member News

The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Keystone Center recognized Camryn Smith and Alicia Evans, medical assistants at Trinity Health IHA Medical Group, as its quarterly MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award recipients.

Camryn Smith and Alicia Evans, medical assistants at Trinity Health IHA Medical Group, at the MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award presentation.

The Speak-up! Award honors individuals or teams in Michigan hospitals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to preventing harm to patients or staff. Smith and Evans were recognized for speaking up – and jumping into action – after Smith detected an abnormal blood pressure reading while performing a stitch removal.

“Some of the most powerful acts of courage and leadership come from those early in their career,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “The work of the Trinity Health IHA Medical Group team is a strong reminder that every voice matters when it comes to enhancing patient safety. It also underlines the importance of establishing a culture where speaking up is encouraged and supported.”

Upon realizing the patient’s blood pressure results seemed inconsistent using automated equipment, Evans, a medical assistant intern at the time, asked Smith for assistance with a manual pulse check. The two soon learned that the patient’s heart rate was dangerously low and promptly notified an attending provider to further assess the situation.

It was discovered through an electrocardiogram (EKG) that the patient was experiencing an episode of atrial fibrillation (AFib). As a result of Smith and Evans’ prompt attention to detail, the individual was safely transferred to the emergency department for further treatment.

“Camryn and Alicia listened to their instincts and worked together to ensure timely, lifesaving intervention,” said Cindy Elliott, president of Trinity Health Michigan Medical Groups. “Stories like this reinforce our mission and commitment to delivering safe, exceptional care.”

More information about the MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award, including criteria and a nomination form, is available online.

Upcoming Opportunities to Prioritize Workplace Safety

Member News

As MHA CEO Brian Peters stated in his April CEO Report, it’s critical – especially during Workplace Violence Prevention Month – to prioritize the safety and well-being of healthcare workers. The MHA Keystone Center and MHA Service Corporation are committed to partnering with experts across the healthcare industry and beyond to support workplace safety initiatives.

Below are upcoming events and learning opportunities tied to this work:

  • Join i2G Systems April 22 for an informative webinar on the Pathway to Prevention, which will review how security technology recently prevented an active violence incident in the healthcare setting.
  • Explore new trauma-informed eLearning opportunities, including de-escalation trainings available by contacting Tarian as well as the Four Myths of Workplace Violence webinar recording.
  • Save the date for the 2026 MHA Keystone Center Safety & Quality Symposium coming up Oct. 14. The event will feature national speakers including Stephen Weiler, manager of resiliency services at Tarian, who has personally provided active shooter training and more at several MHA-member hospitals.

Contact Rob Wood or the MHA Keystone Center team to learn more.

Registration Open for Workplace Violence Prevention Safe Table

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

MHA EventsThe MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety Organization (PSO) is hosting a Workplace Violence Prevention Safe Table from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 25 at the MHA Headquarters. Lunch will be provided before the safe table at 11:30 a.m.

The MHA Keystone Center PSO has partnered with Tom Peterson, MD, FAAP, chief safety officer, Trinity Health and his team to offer this free event.

Participants will learn how to:

  1. Use workplace violence metrics to identify gaps, opportunities and progress.
  2. Successfully design and implement a Zero-Tolerance Code of Conduct and a Code of Conduct program.
  3. Implement critical preventive tools such as electronic risk scoring and safety planning, early preventive response teams, and a zero-tolerance policy and process.
  4. Share other proven workplace violence prevention strategies from their organization and collaborate with other hospitals and health systems.

The target audience for this event is chief quality officers, chief safety officers, chief nursing officers, vice presidents of quality, safety, and risk, vice presidents of clinical transformation, nursing leaders, directors of quality improvement, directors of patient safety and performance improvement directors.

Nursing and risk management credits are being pursued.

Members with questions may contact the MHA Keystone Center PSO.