Vidant Medical Center's Bariatric General Surgery Unit recognized for excellence by American Association of Critical-Care Nurses | Eastern North Carolina Now

    News Release:

National three-year silver designations marks a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and achieving a healthy work environment

    GREENVILLE, NC     The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the bariatric general surgery unit at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. Vidant Medical Center is one of only seven hospitals in the state, and in an elite group of less than 300 hospitals on the national and international front, to be awarded the Beacon Award for Excellence.

    "This is a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments," said Dr. David Herman, president and CEO of Vidant Health. "The silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by the bariatric general surgery unit at Vidant Medical Center signifies continuous learning and effective systems to achieve optimal patient care. I recently made evening rounds on the unit and left with a tremendous sense of pride and confidence in the caregivers on the unit."

    The award recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN's six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award with a gold, silver or bronze designation meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

    The bariatric general surgery unit at Vidant Medical Center 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

    · Evidence-based practice and processes

    · Outcome measurement

    "This award is important because it is validation of a commitment from every staff member on this unit for Excellence in Attitude and Practice with outcomes that tell the Vidant Health story," said Steve Lawler, president Vidant Medical Center.

    AACN President Vicki Good, RN, MSN, CENP, applauds the commitment of the caregivers at Vidant Medical Center 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 role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care," she explains.

    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; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurement. 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 235 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.

    Contact:

     Christine Mackey, Vidant Health, 252.847.9390 or Christine.mackey@vidanthealth.com