Columbia VA Earns Multiple Awards for Patient Safety

South Carolina hospital association recognizes VA health system's efforts to prevent harm and improve outcomes.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:23pm

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The Columbia VA Health Care System in South Carolina earned seven Zero Harm Awards from the state's hospital association, recognizing the system's performance in 2024 in preventing patient harm and improving outcomes across clinical and priority areas. The awards cover achievements in reducing hospital-onset MRSA, preventing surgical site infections, preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections, and suicide prevention.

Why it matters

The Zero Harm awards highlight the Columbia VA's commitment to providing high-quality and consistently safe care for veterans. The recognition across diverse areas reflects the system's systemwide focus on a culture of safety, accountability, and early intervention to reduce risks and prevent harm.

The details

The Zero Harm program, led by the South Carolina Hospital Association, recognizes health care organizations that demonstrate measurable success in reducing harm through evidence-based practices and a strong culture of safety. The Columbia VA received awards for Hospital Onset MRSA, Surgical Site Infection (SSI) prevention for knee replacement and colon surgery, central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) prevention on three inpatient units, and a Priority Award for Suicide Prevention.

  • The awards were presented in January 2026 and reflect sustained efforts throughout 2024.
  • In fiscal year 2025, the Columbia VA's Suicide Prevention Team followed up on 2,977 Veterans Crisis Line consults, answering on the first business day more than 99 percent of the time.

The players

Jeffrey Soots

Columbia VA acting executive director/CEO.

Dr. Brian Apple

Suicide prevention program manager at the Columbia VA.

Lucy Austin

Infection control nurse manager at the Columbia VA.

Columbia VA Health Care System

A VA health system in South Carolina that comprises the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center and seven community-based outpatient clinics, serving more than 90,000 veterans annually.

South Carolina Hospital Association

The organization that leads the Zero Harm program and recognizes health care organizations for reducing harm and improving outcomes.

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What they’re saying

“Receiving multiple Zero Harm Awards is a powerful affirmation of our core mission—to provide Veterans with care that is not only high-quality, but consistently safe.”

— Jeffrey Soots, Columbia VA acting executive director/CEO

“Suicide prevention is everyone's job in VA. In fiscal year 2025, our team followed up on 2,977 Veterans Crisis Line consults, answering on the first business day more than 99 percent of the time. That consistency helps Veterans feel connected and supported during critical moments.”

— Dr. Brian Apple, Suicide prevention program manager

“Our success comes from strict adherence to infection prevention protocols, including hand hygiene compliance, prevention bundles, surveillance, and continuous process improvement.”

— Lucy Austin, Infection control nurse manager

What’s next

The Columbia VA will continue to learn from data, invest in its people, and strengthen collaboration to ensure Zero Harm remains a sustained way of operating.

The takeaway

The Columbia VA's multiple Zero Harm awards demonstrate its systemwide commitment to a culture of safety, accountability, and early intervention to reduce risks and prevent harm for the veterans it serves.