LeConte Medical Center Earns Zero Harm Awards From Tennessee Hospital Association

SEVIERVILLE, TENN. – October 2025 – The Tennessee Hospital Association has honored LeConte Medical Center with two Zero Harm Awards for 2024. The awards are part of a new THA initiative that recognizes Tennessee hospitals for outstanding achievements in patient safety.

“At Covenant Health LeConte, safety is at the heart of everything we do. Receiving the Zero Harm Award reflects our team’s relentless commitment to protecting patients and delivering exceptional care,” said Jodi Whitaker, RN, chief nursing officer of LeConte Medical Center. “I am incredibly proud of our staff for making zero harm our standard.”

The awards program celebrates hospitals and clinical departments that have experienced zero healthcare-associated infections in various areas over the past calendar year. The initiative aligns with THA’s goal of achieving zero preventable harm events across Tennessee hospitals.

 For 2024, LeConte received Zero Harm Awards in:

• CAUTI (Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections) – MedSurg Unit
• CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections) – Hospital-wide

CAUTIs occur when germs enter the urinary tract through a urinary catheter and cause infection. CLABSIs occur when germs enter the bloodstream through a central line, a tube that is inserted into major veins in the chest, neck, or groin to give fluids or medication, or to collect blood. According to THA, having zero healthcare-associated infections in these areas highlights  hospitals’ commitment to eliminating harm, saving lives and reducing unnecessary costs.

The achievements of hospitals receiving Zero Harm Awards “are a testament to exceptional quality and safety practices in their facilities,” said Tammy Van Dyk, THA senior vice president of patient safety. She notes that 106 THA member hospitals received Zero Harm Awards this year, with 16 having zero harm events across all four award categories.

In addition to LeConte, other Covenant Health hospitals earning Zero Harm Awards are Claiborne Medical Center, Tazewell; Cumberland Medical Center, Crossville; Fort Loudoun Medical Center, Lenoir City; Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Knoxville; Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge; Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System, Morristown; Parkwest Medical Center, Knoxville; and Covenant Health Roane, Harriman.

Learn more about the Zero Harm Awards on THA’s website.

About Covenant Health
Covenant Health is a Tennessee-based healthcare enterprise committed to providing the right care at the right time and place. As a not-for-profit health system, we are dedicated to being the region’s premier healthcare network through service, community and innovation. We provide patient-centered care that inspires clinical and service excellence and strive to be the first and best choice for our patients, employees, physicians, employers, volunteers and communities. Covenant Health is the area’s largest employer and has more than 11,000 compassionate caregivers, expert clinicians, and dedicated employees and volunteers. Learn more at CovenantHealth.com. To learn more about LeConte Medical Center, visit the hospital website.

About Tennessee Hospital Association

The mission of the Tennessee Hospital Association is to lead its members in advocacy for and support of community-based hospitals and health systems and assist them in delivering accessible, cost-effective, quality health services. THA was established in 1938 as a not-for-profit membership association, to serve as an advocate for hospitals, health systems and other healthcare organizations and the patients they serve. The Association also provides education and information for its members and informs the public about hospitals and healthcare issues at the state and national levels. Learn more at THA.com.