Bronson Battle Creek Nurse Honored with Statewide Award for Life-Saving Action

Bronson Battle Creek Hospital nurse Season Willi, RN, has been recognized by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Keystone Center with its Speak-up! Award for the first quarter of 2025. The award honors healthcare professionals who take courageous, proactive steps to keep patients and communities safe.

Willi received the award after noticing that something wasn’t quite right during a routine pre-operative phone call with a patient’s advocate. When the person began speaking irregularly and the call was suddenly disconnected, Willi trusted her instincts. After multiple attempts to reconnect, she contacted local authorities and requested a welfare check — a decision that led first responders to find the individual at home suffering from a stroke.

Thanks to her quick thinking, the person was brought to the hospital and received the medical care they needed.

“I’m relieved that the individual I spoke to over the phone received the medical attention they needed,” said Willi. “At Bronson, we are trained to watch for signs of serious health issues — including during conversations — and we take seriously our responsibility to speak up, even when someone isn’t our patient.”

Willi later learned that the individual was home alone and may have gone several more hours without care had she not intervened.

“It’s a privilege to celebrate nurses like Season who go above and beyond,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. "Her quick action reflects Bronson Healthcare’s commitment to the safety of the communities it serves, extending beyond the walls of its facilities.”

The MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award is given quarterly to individuals or teams in Michigan hospitals who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to patient and staff safety. Willi was one of several outstanding nominees across the state.

To learn more about the Speak-up! Award and view past recipients, visit the MHA Keystone Center website.