Did you hear our good news? The dedicated physicians, nurses and staff in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at CHOC Hospital have earned a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)!
The Beacon Award for Excellence 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 gold, silver or bronze designations meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.
“The entire team in our pediatric intensive care unit is dedicated to the highest standards of patient safety and care. We are entrusted with caring for some of the sickest and most medically fragile patients, and our goal is to deliver the best possible outcomes for them and their families,” says Melanie Patterson, DNP, MHA, RN, vice president, patient care services and chief nursing officer, CHOC Hospital. “While getting our patients better is our greatest reward, we are truly honored to receive this high distinction from AACN.”
CHOC’s PICU earned a gold award, the highest designation, 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; and outcome measurement.
