I Am Patient Safety
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​I AM Patient Safety is an annual contest that recognizes and celebrates healthcare staff for their individual or collective commitment to and influences on patient safety. It is a chance for us to celebrate the things that go right each day in healthcare to make our patients safer.

2025 WINNERS​​

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S CHOICE AWARD
AMBULATORY CARE
Commitment to safety
HEALTHCARE DISPARITY
IMPROVING DIAGNOSIS
Individual Impact
MEDICATION SAFETY
PATIENT COMMUNICATION
SAFETY STORY
Transparency and Safety in Healthcare

RUNNERS UP

AMBULATORY CARE

  • Pennsylvania Hospital - Farm Journal Building: Jazmin Mendoza
  • AHN Bethel Park Surgery Center: Julie Triplett

COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

  • Pennsylvania Hospital: Perioperative Services Leadership and Education Team
  • Wellspan Good Samaritin Hospital: Jennifer Higgins

HEALTHCARE DISPARITY

  • Jefferson Torresdale Hospital:
    Bunmi Olarewaju
    Salman Quresh
    Guljinder Chera
    Patricia Nichols
    Michele Ferguson Davis
     
  • UPMC St. Margaret: Community Health Needs Assessment Committee 
    • Alex Pantoja
    Kevin Macdonald
    Bethany Rose
    Kristen Guinther
    Bill Jordan
    Lacey Murray
    Carole Hoy
    LaQuicha Anderson
    Chelsey Wojcik
    Lia Gallagher
    Courtney Riedel
    Linda Yelen
    Daniel Hedayati
    Megan Mcgrady
    Diane Corr
    Michele Hilty
    Donna Tassos
    Michele Orsini
    Erin O'Connor
    Michelle Ikoma
    Faith Colen
    Ryan Witt
    James Mercuri
    Sanketh Proddutur
    Jennifer McMahon
    Terri Pellegrino

IMPROVING DIAGNOSIS

  • Jefferson Torresdale Hospital: Jefferson Health and Bensalem Rescue Squad Mobile Stroke Unit
  • UPMC St. Margaret: Saundra Jones

INDIVIDUAL IMPACT

  • Geisinger Medical Center: Gustaaf de Ridder
  • Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: Elizabeth King

MEDICATION SAFETY

  • Pennsylvania Hospital: Infusion Center Pharmacy Nursing Workgroup 
  • UPMC Hamot: Maryann Scholl

PATIENT COMMUNICATION

  • Kirkland Village: Kirkland Village Healthcare Center Clinical Team
  • UPMC Hamot: Melissa Smock

SAFETY STORY

  • Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono: Maura Kessler
  • Jefferson Torresdale:
    • John Paoletti
    • Robert Bayer

TRANSPARENCY

  • Pennsylvania Hospital: 
    • PAH Patient Safety Team
    • Rebecca Geddes
  • The Guthrie Clinic: 
    Kelly Goff
    Matthew Jesso
    Lisa Esolen
    System Quality Department

PAST WINNERS


JUDGING

Going Above and Beyond 

  • Extraordinary actions or demonstration of “going the extra mile”
Innovativeness

  • Creative solution to a challenge or unique approach
Impact

  • Significant effect on reducing harm or improving patient care
Patient-centeredness

  • Inclusion of patient in the initiative and/or recognition of the direct impact on patients
Sustainability

  • Likelihood of and/or ability for continuation of the initiative
Scalability

  • Consideration for and/or ability for others to implement this initiative on a broad scale and value in doing so