In 2017, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association’s launched a statewide recognition initiative entitled the Virginians Speak Up for Safety award program. This recognition program is designed to acknowledge the efforts of individuals and teams within Virginia hospitals who speak-up to prevent potential harm to patients or other staff members.

Employees who feel safe and empowered to speak up to peers as well as to those in authority are able to do so because of a positive safety culture in their organization. In fact, highly reliable organizations make sure that everyone not only feels free to speak up without any concerns but also recognizes an obligation to do so because the organization values the information as a vital component of its journey to achieving zero harm.

VHHA believes that employees who feel safe and empowered to speak up to peers as well as to those in authority are able to do so because of a positive safety culture in their organization.

Each quarter VHHA solicits nominations from hospitals across Virginia and selects two award winners each quarter. Since the program’s inception in 2017, 938 nominations have been received.

Representatives from VHHA travel to each award recipients’ hospital to present the award in front of their peers and leadership team.

Contact Kristie Burnette at kburnette@vhha.com with any questions