Reading Hospital – Tower Health announced today that its Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) was recently recognized with the silver Beacon Award for Excellence by The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). This is the second consecutive Beacon Award for this intensive care unit.
The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments — 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 the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and the National Quality Healthcare Award.
"Everyone at Reading Hospital is so very proud of the MICU Nursing team," said Rosemary Wurster, DNP, RN, MPH, NEA-BC, CEN, Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer at Reading Hospital. "This team takes care of some the sickest patients in our hospital with precision and compassion. Their work quite literally saves lives each day. This team provides the highest quality care to our patients and this recognition is a clear demonstration of their commitment and their dedication."
AACN President Beth Wathen, MSN, APRN, CCRN-K, applauded the commitment of the caregivers in the MICU at Reading Hospital for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence.
"The Beacon Award for Excellence is a testament to a team’s commitment to providing safe, patient-centered, and evidence-based care to patients and families. Creating healthy and supportive work environments empowers nurses and other team members to make their optimal contribution," Wathen said. "Achieving this award is an honor that brings such joy to those who have worked so hard to achieve excellence in patient care and positive patient outcomes."
The silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by Reading Hospital’s MICU team signifies an effective approach to policies, procedures, and processes that includes engagement of staff and key stakeholders. The unit has evaluation and improvement strategies in place and strong performance measures when compared to benchmarks. Reading Hospital 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, and Learning and Development
- Evidence-Based Practice and Processes
- Outcome Measurement
About Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 714-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, Tower Health Transplant Institute, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians and providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for five consecutive years and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.