SGMC Health recognized Peter Lane, a certified clinical perfusionist, with the Safe Care Award for his exceptional attention to detail, clinical expertise, and unwavering commitment to advocating for patients. 

During open‑heart surgery, clinical perfusionists play a critical role in sustaining life by managing circulation and oxygen levels. In this high‑stakes environment, Lane demonstrated a strong commitment to patient advocacy by identifying potential concerns during a routine review and bringing them forward to the care team. By asking thoughtful questions, presenting supporting evidence, and encouraging further evaluation, he helped the team pause, reassess, and move forward with the safest possible plan for the patient. 

Beyond a single case, Lane also demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement. When concerns emerged related to a medication used during heart surgery, he took initiative to explore potential causes and collaborated with clinical partners to identify a safer, more reliable alternative. This proactive approach helped strengthen consistency in care and reduce future risk for patients. 

In roles where vigilance can change outcomes, reliability matters. SGMC Health Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Pankaj Agrawal, MD, shared, “Peter exemplifies the use of two critical HRO principles: a reluctance to simplify and a preoccupation with failure.”

The Safe Care Award is part of SGMC Health’s journey to become a High Reliability Organization (HRO)—an organization‑wide commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement. Award recipients exemplify core HRO principles such as proactive risk identification, adherence to safety practices, and continuous learning. Through their actions, individuals like Lane help ensure SGMC Health delivers safe, high‑quality care to every patient, every time. 

SGMC Health encourages team members, patients, and community members to recognize acts of excellence in patient safety. Nominations for the Safe Care Award can be submitted at sgmc.org/recognition.