SGMC Health presented Will Copeland, RN, with the Safe Care Award for his exceptional commitment to safety and dedication to high reliability principles. This award recognizes individuals who play a vital role in advancing SGMC Health’s culture of safety and unwavering focus on quality.

Copeland, a nurse in the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU), was nominated by Vivek Yadav, MD, a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine physician, for his outstanding clinical judgment and swift action that prevented a critical patient emergency.

During morning rounds, Copeland expressed concern about a patient and immediately called Dr. Yadav for his assistance. Upon arriving, Dr. Yadav evaluated the patient and confirmed Copeland's suspicions. The patient was then taken for emergency surgery to remedy the situation and returned to the ICU with no further complications.

Dr. Yadav commended Copeland for his vigilance and clinical expertise, sharing, “By alerting the physician at the right time, Mr. Copeland prevented a major mishap for the patient. His professionalism, sound clinical judgment, and dedication are truly exemplary and set a great example for others.”

SGMC Health is currently in the process of becoming a High Reliability Organization (HRO), a designation that reflects a system-wide commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement. The HRO journey encourages all team members to engage in open dialogue, identify potential risks, and play an active role in delivering reliable, safe care.

To be considered for SGMC Health's Safe Care Award, nominees should possess one or more of the following attributes: Exemplary Adherence to Safety Protocols, Proactive Hazard Identification and Reporting, Continuous Improvement Initiatives, Advocating for Safety Culture, and Mentoring and Knowledge Sharing.  

Nominations can be submitted online at sgmc.org/recognition by patients or patients' family members, colleagues, or leaders.    

To learn more, visit sgmc.org.