WCHS SANE Team Recognized with Quest for Excellence Innovation Award
November 10, 2025
Winnebago, NE – The Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System (WCHS) Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) team has been recognized by the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) with the Quest for Excellence Innovation Award for their pioneering work in developing and implementing a comprehensive SANE program at Twelve Clans Unity Hospital.
The Quest for Excellence Awards, developed by the Rural Quality Improvement Steering Committee, honor Nebraska hospitals that demonstrate outstanding efforts to improve quality and patient care. The committee includes representatives from Nebraska’s critical access hospitals, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the Nebraska Association for Healthcare Quality, Risk and Safety, the Nebraska Rural Health Association, and the NHA.
This year, the NHA introduced a special mention category for innovation to recognize projects offering exceptional lessons in creativity, collaboration, and impact. WCHS’s SANE program earned this inaugural Innovation Award distinction for its far-reaching impact and leadership in quality improvement.
“Our SANE nurses went above and beyond to bring this program to life,” said David Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of WCHS. “Their dedication to patient safety, collaboration with law enforcement, and advocacy for updates to Tribal Law Codes have transformed how we deliver compassionate, immediate care for survivors right here at home.”
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) are specially trained nurses who provide compassionate medical and forensic care to survivors of sexual assault. At WCHS, survivors can seek SANE services through the Emergency Department or Primary Care Clinic, ensuring timely, confidential, and culturally sensitive support close to home. Prior to the implementation of the SANE program in June 2025, patients requiring sexual assault examinations were transferred to Omaha for specialized care. Recognizing the burden and trauma this caused, WCHS’s nursing and administration team took action—undertaking extensive training, forming partnerships with external agencies, and securing approval for Tribal Law Code updates to ensure victims receive timely, culturally sensitive care within their own community. Today, WCHS has five forensic-trained nurses on staff.
“This recognition is not only a testament to our nurses’ skill and heart, but also to our community’s commitment to healing and justice,” said Sara McIntosh, Chief Nursing Officer at WCHS. “Our SANE program reflects what’s possible when we combine compassion, innovation, and cultural integrity in healthcare.”
The SANE team was showcased during the NHA Awards Banquet at the association’s Annual Convention on October 22, 2025, and will also be displayed at the upcoming NHA Quality Conference (November 13–14) to share best practices and inspire other healthcare organizations across the state.
About the Quest for Excellence Awards
The Quest for Excellence Awards program recognizes Nebraska hospitals for outstanding efforts in improving quality and patient outcomes. One award is given annually to a critical access hospital and one to a non-critical access hospital. Projects are showcased through poster presentations at the NHA Annual Convention and shared online to encourage statewide learning and collaboration.