About UI Health

Safety Star Award

The Safety Star award highlights the providers and staff who help ensure quality and safety in our care environments. Safety Star awardees are models for how to prioritize patient and employee safety at UI Health.

February 2026

Naida Perez

Department: Respiratory Therapy
Naida is being recognized for her exceptional collaboration, critical thinking, and commitment to patient care. After identifying a discrepancy involving a high-demand medication, she quickly partnered with the care team to verify orders, ensure patients received the most appropriate therapy, and help preserve limited medication inventory for those who needed it most. Her proactive communication, attention to detail, and willingness to go above and beyond supported both safe patient care and responsible resource management.

Bobby Scott, Jose Diaz & Prakruti Patel

Department: Environment of Care Team
The Environment of Care (EOC) Team is being recognized for their outstanding leadership, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to patient and staff safety. Through their expertise in emergency preparedness, disaster drills, and downtime planning, they help ensure UI Health is ready to respond confidently to any situation. Most recently, the team provided exceptional guidance during a downtime preparedness review, offering calm, solutions-focused support that helped staff navigate a complex process with confidence. Their professionalism, technical expertise, and collaborative approach make them trusted partners across the organization and play a vital role in maintaining a safe, resilient environment for patients, visitors, and employees.

May 2026

Ayane Kawaai

Department: 5W PICU
Ayane Kawaai identified an issue with the electronic sepsis alert system after noticing that a patient who showed signs of sepsis did not trigger an expected alert. Her observation prompted a review by the Pediatric Sepsis Committee, which uncovered a system setting that unintentionally prevented additional sepsis alerts during the same patient encounter. As a result, the Epic workflow was updated to allow repeat alerts when clinically appropriate, strengthening patient safety across the organization. Ayane's vigilance and willingness to speak up exemplify how frontline staff drive meaningful improvements in patient care.

Rachel Kim

Department: Inpatient Occupational Therapy
Rachel is being recognized for her outstanding commitment to patient and employee safety. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure safe patient handling by securing appropriate equipment, educating staff on best practices, and helping patients feel informed and supported during transfers. Rachel also takes the initiative to assist colleagues across units, providing guidance and practical solutions that strengthen coordination and improve safety outcomes.