The Beacon Award for Excellence nationally recognizes intensive care units that optimize patient outcomes through their caregivers and aligns practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units are judged on staff, communication, leadership structure, outcome measurements, evidence-based practices and knowledge management.
“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes,” says AACN President Christine Schulman, MS, RN, CNS, CCRN-K. “Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care,” she explains.
“This award reflects the dedication and commitment of the highly skilled nurses in our ICU,” says Cheryl MacMillan, director of nursing and patient care services at GMC-Duluth. “Day in and day out, our ICU nurses provide an exceptional level of care while creating a supportive environment for care delivery. While our nurses can be proud of this accomplishment and of the role they play in serving others, our community can take comfort in knowing that the care of these patients is in capable hands.”
In addition to this latest recognition, GMC also received a B rating from Leapfrog, a nonprofit that works to better the quality and safety of healthcare based on a grading system for general acute-care hospitals. In April, Leapfrog published its spring 2018 hospital safety grades, with Gwinnett Medical Center-Duluth and Gwinnett Medical Center-Lawrenceville each receiving an above-average ranking in overall safety. These developments reaffirm GMC’s commitment to quality and safety.
About Gwinnett Health System
Gwinnett Health System (GHS) is the parent company of Gwinnett Medical Center, Gwinnett Medical Group, Gwinnett Cardiology Services and Sequent Health Physician Partners. GHS employs over 5,500 associates and has 800 affiliated physicians serving more than 600,000 patients annually. Gwinnett Medical Center (GMC) is a nationally-recognized, not-for-profit healthcare network with acute-care hospitals in Lawrenceville and Duluth. Additional facilities include the Gwinnett Women’s Pavilion, the Gwinnett Extended Care Center, Glancy Rehabilitation Center, outpatient health centers and surgical centers, imaging centers and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy facilities. To learn more about how GMC is transforming healthcare, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org.
