Goshen General Hospital ICU earns Beacon Award

GOSHEN, Ind. - Goshen General Hospital's Intensive Care Unit has received the spring 2010 Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence, an award given by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Goshen General Hospital's ICU is the only ICU in Northern Indiana to have received this designation.

The award is specifically designated to recognize the nation's top pediatric, progressive, and adult critical care units. This recognition represents extraordinary commitment to high-quality critical care standards, and dedication to the exceptional care of patients and their families.

"The ICU of Goshen General Hospital serves as a shining role model for other units that seek to optimize the expert care nurses provide to patients and their families," wrote Beth Hammer, AACN President, in a congratulatory letter to the Goshen General Hospital's ICU.

As a Beacon Award recipient, Goshen General Hospital's ICU succeeded in the following areas, as measured against evidence-based national criteria:

• Recruitment and retention
• Education, training and mentoring
• Research and evidence-based practice
• Patient outcomes
• Leadership and organization ethics
• Healing environment

"I am incredibly proud of the unit for earning this award," said Vicki Mast, Director of Critical Care at Goshen General Hospital. "Working toward and ultimately earning a Beacon Award sends a clear message that we are committed to quality care and a healthy work environment. This should be a reassurance to patients and families that we are dedicated to, and provide, excellent patient care."

The Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence was created by AACN in 2003 to challenge acute and critical care nurses to improve the care provided to acutely and critically ill patients. The application process and Award provides the critical care community a quantitative and qualitative way to view achievements in professional practice, patient outcomes and the health of the work environment.

According to the AACN, out of the estimated 6,000 Intensive Care Units in the United States, only 242 units nationwide have received the Beacon Award since the program's start in 2003.

About Goshen Health System:
Goshen Health System is a not-for-profit provider of health care that includes Goshen General Hospital, The Goshen Center for Cancer Care, Park Home Medical Equipment, PrimeCare Physician Network, Team:Bariatrics, The Retreat Women's Health Center and Indiana Lakes Managed Care Organization. The health system is an affiliate partner of Clarian Health. For more information about Goshen Health System, contact Bridget Levitz, Public Relations Coordinator at 574-535-2776 or visit www.goshenhealth.org.