Ms. Evans provides systemwide strategic leadership for patient safety, clinical risk, patient relations, infection prevention, simulation education and the resuscitation quality program at Arkansas Children’s. She led the implementation and maturation of the “Watcher” early warning program, which strengthened identification of patients at risk for clinical deterioration through standardized criteria and real-time escalation workflows, contributing to earlier interventions and safer patient outcomes. Ms. Evans also implemented the “CANDOR” communication and optimal resolution program, embedding transparency and empathy into the organization’s response to adverse events while improving the timeliness and quality of cause analyses. Her collaboration with surgical teams to build communication and loop closure workflows was recognized by the American College of Surgeons during a children’s surgery verification program site visit. Under her leadership, Arkansas Children’s has demonstrated a reduction in preventable harm outcomes, and the organization has been nationally ranked in seven pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report.
