FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2008
CONTACT:
Judy Wilkin
(949) 362-2050, ext. 353
judy.wilkin@aacn.org
31 HOSPITAL UNITS NATIONWIDE RECEIVE AACN BEACON AWARD
Units Recognized for Critical Care Excellence
(Aliso Viejo, Calif.)—The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) announces that 31 units
from 27 hospitals in 17 states have received the AACN Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence. The
award recognizes the nation’s top hospital units caring for acutely and critically ill patients. Prior to 2007
the award was only available to adult critical care units. This fall’s award cycle marks the first time it has
been presented to pediatric intensive care units and progressive care units.
The AACN Beacon Award provides a mechanism for adult critical care, progressive care and pediatric
intensive care units to measure their systems, outcomes and environment against evidence-based national
criteria for excellence. The awarded Beacon units have demonstrated their commitment to patient safety by
meeting or exceeding standards in six categories:
• Recruitment and retention
• Education, training and mentoring
• Research and evidence-based practice
• Patient outcomes
• Leadership and organizational ethics
• Healing environment
“Working toward, and ultimately earning, a Beacon Award sends a clear message that these exceptional
unit teams are committed to making continuous improvement in providing exceptional patient care fostered
by a healthy work environment,” said Caryl Goodyear-Bruch, RN, PhD, CCRN, president, AACN. “We are
especially proud to recognize the first recipients of the Beacon Award for pediatric intensive care and
progressive care units. They are pioneers who have raised the bar for other hospital teams.”
The AACN Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence recipients for Fall 2008 are:
PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE
California
Orange
Children’s Hospital of Orange County
PICU
PROGRESSIVE CARE
Massachusetts
Springfield
Baystate Medical Center
Daly 6-2 Surgical Intermediate Care-B
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Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Silverstein 10
Virginia
Lynchburg
Virginia Baptist Hospital
Intermediate Care Unit
ADULT CRITICAL CARE
Colorado
Loveland
Medical Center of the Rockies (Two units recognized)
Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Connecticut
Norwalk
Norwalk Hospital
ICU-2FCCU (Three-time recipient)
Florida
Ocala
Munroe Regional Health Care System
ICU (Three-time recipient)
Tampa
Tampa General Hospital
CVSICU
Georgia
Atlanta
Saint Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta
Medical/Surgical ICU
Idaho
Boise
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
Cardiovascular ICU
Indiana
Indianapolis
Methodist Hospital
Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit
Michigan
Grand Rapids
Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus
5 Meijer Heart Center
New Jersey
Morristown
Morristown Memorial Hospital
Intensive Care Unit (Three-time recipient)
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Camden
Cooper University Hospital (Two units recognized)
CCU
ICU-CT CCU
Ridgewood
Valley Hospital
Coronary Care Unit
New York
Rochester
Highland Hospital of Rochester
Intensive Care Unit (Two-time recipient)
North Carolina
Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina Hospital
Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit-UNC
Raleigh
WakeMed New Bern Campus (Two units recognized)
CCU
SICU
Ohio
Cleveland
University Hospitals Case Medical Center
Medical ICU (Four-time recipient)
Oregon
Portland
Oregon Health & Science University
Cardiac & Surgical ICU
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Rhoads 5 Surgical Intensive Care Unit (Three-time recipient)
Texas
Fort Worth
JPS Health Network
Intensive Care Unit
Virginia
Mechanicsville
Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center
Critical Care Unit
Falls Church
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Cardiovascular ICU
Charlottesville
University of Virginia Hospital
Porter Medical Intensive Care Unit (Two-time recipient)
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Charlottesville
University of Virginia Medical Center
Thoracic Cardiovascular Post Operative Unit (Two-time recipient)
Washington
Everett
Providence Everett Medical Center
Critical Care Unit
Spokane
Sacred Heart Medical Center
2 South-ICU
The latest awards bring to 130 the total number of units that have received the AACN Beacon Award for
Critical Care Excellence. Of these recipients 22 have been recognized multiple times. More than 200 units
are currently in the process of applying for the award. AACN applauds the commitment and dedication of
the staff of each unit in their efforts to provide exceptional care to patients and their families during the
most vulnerable times in their lives.
For more information on the Beacon Award, visit www.aacn.org/beacon or call (800) 899-2226.
# # #
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in
the world, representing the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses. AACN’s
headquarters are located in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Founded in 1969, the association has more than 240
chapters worldwide and is working toward a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their
families, where critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. Additional information about AACN
is available at www.aacn.org.
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