ARMC Unit Receives Beacon Award for Excellence

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), Aliso Viejo, Calif., recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence Athens Regional Medical Center’s Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.

“We are excited and proud to be awarded the Silver-level Beacon Award that recognizes excellence in nursing care and patient outcomes. The professionalism demonstrated through innovative care practices and collegial relationships combined with compassionate care of the Nursing staff help make Athens Regional the leader in cardiovascular care. The pursuit of this award by our staff exemplifies our commitment to quality outcomes for our patients,” said Carrie Capps, senior vice president, CNO, RN, MBA, BSN, NEA-BC, FACHE at Athens Regional Medical Center.

The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and a healthy work environment — recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six standards for a healthy work environment. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award with gold, silver and bronze designations meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

AACN President Kathryn E. Roberts, RN, MSN, CNS, CCRN, CCNS, applauds the commitment of the caregivers in the Cardiovascular ICU at Athens Regional for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence. These dedicated healthcare professionals join other members of the exceptional community of nurses who set the standard for optimal patient care.

“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition serve as a role model to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care,” she explained.

The silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by the Cardiovascular ICU at Athens Regional signifies continuous learning and effective systems to achieve optimal patient care. The Unit earned its silver award by meeting the following evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria:

•             Leadership Structures and Systems

•             Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement

•             Effective Communication, Knowledge Management, Learning and Development, Best Practices

•             Evidence-Based Practice and Processes

•             Patient Outcomes

The other Beacon Award designations are bronze and gold. Recipients who earned a bronze-level award show success in developing, deploying and integrating unit-based performance criteria for optimal outcomes; gold-level awardees demonstrate excellent and sustained unit performance and patient outcomes.

AACN honors the Cardiovascular ICU at Athens Regional and other Beacon Award for Excellence recipients with an announcement in AACN Bold Voices, the monthly award-winning member magazine distributed to more than 90,000 acute and critical care nurses nationwide. AACN also honors awardees at the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families.

Read more below to learn about Athens Regional Medical Center, the Beacon Award for Excellence and the American Association for Critical-Care Nurses.

About Athens Regional Health System:

Athens Regional Health System is one of Northeast Georgia's largest health care systems. Comprised of an acute care facility with 350-plus beds, four urgent care centers, a quality network of physicians and specialists, a health maintenance organization and a home health agency, Athens Regional is a progressive health care system committed to excellence and dedicated to improving the health, wellness and quality of life of our communities.

The cornerstone of the Health System is Athens Regional Medical Center. Athens Regional is a regional referral center, offering services such as maternal/child, advanced imaging, minimally invasive surgeries, an American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer approved oncology department and a nationally recognized cardiovascular program. Athens Regional was recently recognized as a TOP 100 hospital in the nation by WomenCertified; among the best hospitals in the region for gastroenterology and pulmonary procedures according to US News and World Report; and named the 2011 Large Hospital of the Year for the State of Georgia by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals. Athens Regional is the only locally owned and governed hospital in the region it serves. For more information, visit www.athenshealth.org

 About the Beacon Award for Excellence:

 Established in 2003, the Beacon Award for Excellence offers a road map to help guide exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall patient satisfaction. U.S. or Canadian units where patients receive their principal nursing care after hospital admission qualify for this excellence award. Units that receive the Beacon Award for Excellence meet criteria in six categories: leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management, learning and development and best practices; evidence-based practice and processes; and patient outcomes. To learn more, visit www.aacn.org/beacon or call (800) 899-2226.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses:

Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 240 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. To learn more about AACN, visit www.aacn.org, connect with the organization on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aacnface or follow AACN on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aacnme.