When the calm, measured voice of a hospital operator announces a ‘Code Yellow’ on an overhead page at a Sentara hospital, you probably don’t know that means a hazardous materials spill is being cleaned up. Without additional information, you would not know to avoid that area until you hear the ‘All Clear.’

On Tuesday, February 7, 2017, all 12 Sentara hospitals in Virginia and North Carolina will transition to Plain Language Facility Alerts, Security Alerts or Medical Alerts under a program we call ‘Just Say It!’ These alerts, in the same measured voices, will plainly identify a situation and its location and advise staff, visitors and patients what to do next.

The trend toward Plain Language is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The National Incident Management System (2008) and The Institute of Medicine’s Health Literacy report and recommendations (2004)

Plain Language eliminates code confusion for staff, visitors and patients and provides clear information to help keep people safe. The Plain Language initiative also standardizes the verbiage used in alerts across all 12 Sentara hospitals.

The only color codes to remain are universally recognized by anyone who ever watched a hospital drama on TV.  A fire alarm will still be Code Red, followed by plain language instructions and a cardiac arrest will still be Code Blue, followed by plain language instructions for medical personnel rushing to help that patient. 

Plain Language is fulfilling the Sentara Promises to ‘Keep You Safe’ and ‘Keep You Informed.’ We are confident that Plain Language will help visitors respond calmly and appropriately as situations arise.