Harborview Medical Center receives Beacon Award for Excellence

SEATTLE, Feb. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Harborview Medical Center's Medical Coronary Intensive Care Unit (MCICU) has received a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The award recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN's six Healthy Work Environment Standards. These standards are: skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition and authentic leadership.

Harborview's MCICU is the only such unit in the Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho region to receive a gold-level Beacon Award.

Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award with gold, silver or bronze designations meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

"This award is well-deserved and reflects the commitment of Harborview's MCICU staff to continuous learning and growth in patient care practices, as well as strong collaboration with each other and with other units and groups in the hospital," said Executive Director Paul Hayes, R.N.

Harborview's MCICU is a 17-bed unit providing critical care services to a wide range of adult and geriatric patients with medical and cardiac needs. The unit is staffed by 74 registered nurses, one nurse manager, three assistant nurse managers, one nurse technician, and 10 hospital assistants. The unit has a high employee retention rate.

"The MCICU staff are dedicated to putting patients first and this award is a real tribute to them," said Dana Kyles, assistant administrator, patient care services.  

About Harborview Medical Center

Harborview Medical Center is owned by King County, governed by a county-appointed Board of Trustees, managed by the University of Washington, and an entity of UW Medicine. It is the region's only Level I adult and pediatric trauma and burn center. Harborview also provides specialized services for vascular, orthopedics, neurosciences, ophthalmology, behavioral health, HIV/AIDS and complex critical care.

Visit www.harborview.org for details.

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SOURCE UW Medicine

Related Links

http://www.harborview.org