The Big Picture
Hospitals are at their best when safety concerns can move quickly from the bedside to the people who can help solve them. At CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals Jordan Valley and West Valley, that process is supported by a tiered safety huddle program designed to identify issues early, escalate them in real time, and share lessons across facilities.
What’s Happening
Each day, teams begin with huddles at the unit level. Clinical units that operate around the clock meet in the morning and evening to talk through patient needs, current census, and any safety concerns from the previous 24 hours.
Those concerns then move through a series of leadership huddles. Tier one brings together facility leaders, who hear directly from unit leaders about issues that need attention — whether it is equipment that is not working, a patient experience concern, or another safety-related need. When something cannot be resolved at that level, it is escalated to a tier two market huddle with all five CommonSpirit Holy Cross hospitals in Utah. If additional support is needed, the issue can move to a tier three regional huddle.
Why It Matters
The huddles create a clear pathway for frontline concerns to be heard and addressed. They also help hospitals learn from one another. When one facility identifies a problem or solution, those insights can be shared with sister facilities so teams across the system can respond more effectively.
Just as importantly, the process helps close the loop with staff. Leaders are expected to return to their teams after the huddles to explain what is being done to address the issue. That follow-up helps staff know their concerns were heard and that action is being taken.
The Bottom Line
Tiered safety huddles help CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals strengthen safety and quality by making it easier to raise concerns, solve problems quickly, and share learning across the organization. By connecting frontline teams with facility, market, and regional leadership, the program supports a culture where speaking up leads to meaningful action.