Presbyterian Hospitals Earn Magnet Designation

CHARLOTTE, NC - Today, Presbyterian Hospitals were notified that the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has unanimously named all four of its hospitals as Magnet Health Care facilities. This designation applies to Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews, Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte and Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital. Only five percent of all hospitals nationwide have earned this designation, which recognizes facilities that provide the highest level of nursing care.

"Every hour of the day, our nurses deliver top quality care to hundreds of patients in our facilities around the region," said Paula Vincent, senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Presbyterian Healthcare. "Earning this prestigious designation is a deeply humbling honor. Nurses and other clinicians consider Magnet designation as the gold standard for it means that our hospitals offer an environment where autonomy, control over practice and professional designation are emphasized."

Added Carl Armato, president of Novant Health Core Markets. "We are one of few mutli-hospital groups in the nation to achieve Magnet designation. Magnet is the highest honor for nursing care that an organization can receive. I am so proud of all of our nurses and employees who work daily to earn an award that only a few in the nation receive annually."

For patients and their families, this award signifies high quality of care. "Magnet facilities attract and retain the cream of the crop healthcare providers," said Vincent. "The culture in a Magnet hospital is one that offers collaborative relationships among all providers, including physicians, nurses and other clinicians."

"We are very proud of the remarkable care our nurses provide to our patients every day," said Mark Billings, president of Presbyterian Hospital. "This honor recognizes how our nurses and physician partners have worked together to ensure patients receive exceptional care," Billings added.

Presbyterian Hospitals have worked for the past several years to earn magnet status, following an extensive application and evaluation process that includes interviews with hundreds of nurses, physicians and other clinicians.

As par tof the process, appraisers from the ANCC reviewed documentation about nurse to patient ratios and evaluated the results of patient satisfaction surveys. Appraisers also reviewed the quantity of nurses certified in specialty areas and advancement in the clinical ladder. They also analyzed initiatives that were led by nurses, intended to improve the hospital environment.

Magnet designation is maintained for four years. During that time period, the ANCC monitors facilities to make sure high standards of care remain intact.

The ANCC lists four objectives to its program: to recognize hospitals that deliver excellent nursing care to patients, to promote quality in an environment that supports professional nursing practice, to allow for the dissemination fo successful nursing practices among healthcare organizations and to promote positive patient outcomes.