Covenant Health Chief Nursing Officer Named a “Patient Safety Expert to Know”

August 2025 – Debbi Honey, RN, was recently named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of “132 Patient Safety Experts to Know.” It is the second year she has been recognized on the list. Honey has served as senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Covenant Health since October 2017.

Becker’s Hospital Review, a publication focusing on hospital business news for healthcare executives, note that experts named to this list have a goal of keeping patients safe and are “instrumental in reducing hospital-acquired infections, preventing adverse events and ensuring strict regulatory compliance.”

Under Honey’s leadership, all nine of Covenant Health’s acute-care facilities have improved their patient safety metrics and have received “A” Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group the last three semesters. Her focus on safety initiatives throughout the system have improved patient safety indicators, including reductions in infection rates and patient falls.

Her responsibilities as chief nursing officer include overseeing the health system’s quality and safety of nursing operations, and standardizing processes to enhance patient and operational support activities throughout Covenant Health. She also helps lead clinical leadership development, both on local and national levels.

She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and earned a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She holds certifications in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) and as a Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), and she is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

To view the full list, visit https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-management-administration/132-patient-safety-experts-to-know-2025/.