Sacred Heart Receives Beacon Award
 
Spokane, Wash - Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital recently received the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence, a prestigious award given by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). It is the second hospital in the country to receive this designation; the other went to Children’s Hospital of Orange County in California.

AACN applauds the efforts and success of Sacred Heart, which now serves as a beacon for other hospitals and health care facilities. There are approximately 6,000 critical care units in the United States; only 122 (2 percent!) have been recognized as Beacon units. In February, Sacred Heart’s adult intensive care unit received the Medical Center’s first Beacon Award.

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

“Sacred Heart’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) has been referred to as the anchor of the Children's Hospital,” says Peggy Mangiaracina, RN, executive director. “The Beacon Award recognizes the blending of compassionate care and outstanding nursing quality for critically ill children.  We are extremely proud of the staff and their commitment to quality care for patients and their families.”

Susan Stacey, RN, nurse manager of the PICU, is quick to point out that “the Beacon award recognizes the hard work our nurses do every day to care for children and the related improved patient outcomes.  Our nurses are a committed and involved group of people—it’s nice to see them recognized in such a tangible way.”

As a Beacon Award recipient, the Children’s Hospital’s intensive care unit 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 
 

About AACN
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world, representing the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses. Its international headquarters are located in Aliso Viejo, California. Founded in 1969, the Association has more than 240 chapters worldwide and is working toward a health care system driven by the needs of patients and their families, where acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. For more information, visit www.aacn.org.