American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Recognizes the Virtual Critical Care Unit with Beacon Award for Excellence
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently awarded the Virtual Critical Care Unit at Atrium Health, Mint Hill, NC with a bronze-level Beacon Award for Excellence.
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 earn this three-year, three-level award with a gold, silver or bronze designation meet national criteria that align with nursing excellence and high-quality patient care.
AACN President Lisa Riggs, MSN, APRN-BC, CCRN-K, applauds the commitment of the caregivers at the Virtual Critical Care at Atrium Health 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 our exceptional community of nurses, who set the standard for optimal patient care.
“I’m honored to lead a team of virtual clinicians dedicated to providing the best care, with the highest standards of excellence,” said Marie Mercier, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, nurse manager for virtual critical care at Atrium Health. “Our nurses have an average of 14 years of critical care experience and are all board certified in critical care, which we have used to build and develop a program deserving of recognition.”
Recipients of the bronze-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by the Virtual Critical Care team at Atrium Health are beginning the journey to excellence, which includes developing systematic policies, processes and procedures; identifying opportunities for staff participation; and recognizing the need to develop cycles of evaluation and improvement. Atrium Health’s Virtual Critical Care unit earned a bronze 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 Atrium Health: Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare System), one of the nation’s leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network of care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care services. Atrium Health works to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives.
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. and 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, and 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, California, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN represents the interests of more than half a million acute and critical care nurses and includes more than 200 chapters in the United States. 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.