Awards, Zeeland Community Hospital

Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital Nurse Honored for Speaking Up

ZEELAND, MI – October 28, 2019 – The MHA Keystone Center honored Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital’s Megan VanDam, RN, BSN, with the quarterly MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award Oct. 17.

The award acknowledges individuals or teams in MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety Organization member hospitals who raise concerns about healthcare quality and safety and prevent potential harm to patients or staff.

VanDam, a charge nurse in the emergency department, received this honor for her diligence in ensuring proper protocols were followed, potentially avoiding an instance of patient harm.

“Our safety culture here has been changing over the years,” said VanDam. “I’ve seen the change from when people were worried about punitive reactions, to now when it’s pretty well-known that there’s no punitive reaction. The goal is always to learn from these things.”

Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital has cultivated a culture of safety for both staff and patients. The hospital is engaged in quality and safety at every level of the organization and provides resources, rounds on units and engages in other strategies as part of this effort.

“Speaking up is so important, but it also means stepping out of your comfort zone to question a colleague,” said Ron Lewis, president, Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital. “In this case and in many cases, staff speak up when they need to, which really makes a difference for quality and safety, making sure the right care happens at the right time to the right person.”

The Speak-up! Award was created in 2016 and has honored nearly 20 employees of Michigan hospitals to date. The award is presented quarterly, with one quarterly awardee recognized as an annual Speak-up! Award recipient.

“For too long, we’ve had a culture of fear to speak up and stop the line in hospitals, and what we’re trying to do with the MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award is change that culture,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “Not only are we saying it’s OK to speak up, but in fact, we’re going to celebrate it.”

Specifics on the MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award, including criteria and a nomination form, are available online. For more information, contact the MHA Keystone Center PSO.

 

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