Emory wins Beacon Awards

The criteria are rigid and the application process is rigorous, but two units from Emory Healthcare’s hospital system have been awarded The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Beacon Award. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. 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.

Martha Boudreau APRN,MN,CCRN,BC-FNP, Unit Nurse Educator in the 3G/4G CCU at Emory University Hospital, recipient of the Silver Beacon Award says, “According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the Beacon Award for nursing excellence was created to recognize individual units that distinguish themselves by improving every facet of patient care.” “The Beacon program’s has three levels of designation – gold, silver, and bronze. Recipients of the Gold Beacon Award demonstrate excellence in sustained unit performance and patient outcomes, while Silver recipients demonstrate continuous learning and effective systems to achieve optimal patient care. The Bronze level recipients demonstrate success in developing, deploying and integrating unit-based performance criteria for optimal outcomes.” Debra Barker, BSN, RN, CCRN –Unit Director Emory University Hospital Midtown - 71 Medical ICU, recipient of the Bronze Beacon Award adds, “The Beacon application is 50 pages. Applicants must respond to criteria questions in the following areas: 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 put this into some perspective, Barker says, “Three ICU’s at Emory University Hospital are currently Beacon Units. The 71 MICU at EUHM is a two-time recipient of the Beacon Award in 2009 and 2015. There are currently only 11 Beacon ICU’s in the state of Georgia.” When asked specifically about what it took for the 3G/4G Critical Care Unit at Emory University Hospital to win this award Boudreau says, “The CCU at Emory University Hospital has consistently maintained between 90 and 99% patient satisfaction scores over the past three years. No other critical unit in the hospital has had this consistent high level of patient satisfaction.” Boudreau credits a high level of engagement with staff and exemplary leadership in the unit. She adds, “Under the direction of past Unit Director, Michelle Gray, the CCU maintained both a healthy and supportive work environment. Strong collaboration between staff and leadership continues to be the gold standard for CCU.” “This has led to low staff turnover, high staff engagement, and commitment for patient care excellence. The CCU is committed to patient-family centered care.” “We were also the first unit in the hospital to complete ‘Pledge Training’, a hospital-wide program designed to increase staff competence with crucial conversation in an effort to enhance resolution of differences. This training has had a positive impact on the communication with patients and families and with all the staff who care for our patients in the CCU.” Barker says that the 71 MICU has also worked very hard to implement evidence-based practice to provide, safe, quality care and improved outcome for the unit’s patients. Having a Beacon Award has many implications for the staff on these award winning units. Barker says, “For nurses, a Beacon Award signals a positive and supportive work environment with greater collaboration between colleagues and leaders, higher morale and lower turnover.” “Nurses who work in these units know their skill and expertise are appreciated and valued.” Boudreau adds, “Obtaining this award has given the 3G/4G CCU nursing staff the national recognition they deserve. The award validates the nurses’ hard work and dedication to high-quality patient care and commitment to every patient they touch.” “They can take pride knowing they are recognized as top notch nurses working in a Magnet-designated hospital where all patients receive the best care possible. A Beacon unit is a unit of excellence.” Naturally, with this level of excellence, patients definitely reap the rewards. Boudreau says that patients admitted to the CCU unit can expect only the highest level of care from nurses who are highly qualified, highly educated, and highly motivated. She says, “We embrace a holistic approach to patient-family centered care that is evidence based. We have proven we maintain quality patient care outcomes.” Barker adds that exceptional care and improved outcomes equals greater overall satisfaction among patients and their families.