Chilton and CentraState medical centers achieve prestigious Magnet recognition again

NEW JERSEY – Atlantic Health System’s Chilton Medical Center and CentraState Medical Center announced they have achieved Magnet® recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

This is the fifth consecutive time for CentraState Medical Center, which places them in an elite group of 1% of hospitals in the nation to have earned Magnet recognition five consecutive times.

Chilton Medical Center earned their second designation which was achieved with Distinction – an honor reserved for only a select few hospitals worldwide that have attained this elite level of performance. Less than 4% of Magnet hospitals have achieved distinction status.

Only 21 hospitals have achieved Magnet with Distinction in the nation and Chilton Medical Center is the second hospital in New Jersey to receive this recognition. Magnet with Distinction celebrates hospitals and health care organizations that exceed the scoring thresholds required to attain Magnet designation. It raises the bar to recognize top-tier organizations that have achieved the highest level of nursing excellence while addressing emerging challenges and changes in health care moving forward.

These redesignations are a testament to both hospitals’ continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice. The ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. This credential is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice. Currently, fewer than 10% of U.S. hospitals have achieved Magnet recognition.

On Dec. 20, both hospitals received their Magnet Redesignation notification announcement by Sharon Pappas, RN, PhD, NEA-BC, the Chair of the Commission for the Magnet Recognition Program.

“As the President of Chilton Medical Center, and as a nurse, being re-designated as a Magnet institution with Distinction is a great honor as it reinforces our commitment to nursing excellence which is a cornerstone of how we serve our communities,” said Maureen Schneider, PhD, MBA, RN, FACHE, President, Chilton Medical Center. “I am incredibly proud of our entire nursing team whose hard work truly exemplifies what it means to deliver exceptional care.”

To achieve Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that requires widespread participation from leadership and team members. Magnet designation is based on several factors including staff empowerment, shared decision making, professional development, nurse recruitment/retention and a higher standard of practice.

“Achieving a fifth consecutive Magnet designation is a tremendous honor and a testament to the extraordinary dedication of our nursing team at CentraState to provide the very best care to our patients,” said Thomas W. Scott, FACHE, FABC, president and CEO of CentraState Medical Center. “Our repeated achievement of this designation highlights our team’s continued pursuit of achieving the highest quality of nursing excellence.”

Chilton Medical Center received 14 exemplars, or examples of best practices, in areas including the following:

• 80% or greater of professional registered nurses having earned a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing
• 54% of nurses achieved professional board certification
• RN engagement outperformed the national benchmark in 100% of nursing units
• Falls with Injury outperformed the national mean benchmark statistic and comparison cohort for the majority of the quarters on 100% of the units
• Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries outperformed the national mean benchmark statistic and comparison cohort for the majority of the quarters on 100% of the units
• Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections outperformed the national mean benchmark statistic and comparison cohort for the majority of the quarters on 100% of the units
• Device-related hospital-acquired pressure injuries outperformed the national mean benchmark statistic and comparison cohort for the majority of the quarters on 100% of the units
• Door-to-needle time for stroke care outperformed the national benchmark on 100% of the units
• Door-to-balloon time for acute myocardial infarction care outperformed the national benchmark on 100% of the units
• Chemotherapy Extravasation outperformed the national benchmark on 100% of the units
• Patient experience in ambulatory areas for courtesy and respect outperformed the national mean benchmark statistic and comparison cohort for the majority of the quarters on 100% of the units
• Patient experience in ambulatory areas for responsiveness of staff outperformed the national mean benchmark statistic and comparison cohort for the majority of the quarters on 100% of the units
• Patient experience in ambulatory areas for care coordination and careful listening outperformed the national mean benchmark statistic and comparison cohort for the majority of the quarters on 100% of the units

CentraState Medical Center was also recognized by the ANCC for seven exemplars of excellence for the following:

• 80% or greater of professional registered nurses having earned a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) outperformed the national mean benchmark statistic and comparison cohort for the majority of the eight quarters on 100% of the units
• Central line-associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) outperformed the national mean benchmark statistic and comparison cohort for the majority of the eight quarters on 100% of the units
• Falls with Injury in the ambulatory setting outperformed the benchmark and comparison cohort provided by the national database for the majority of the quarters on 100% of the units
• Surgical errors outperformed the benchmark and comparison cohort provided by the national database for the majority of the quarters on 100% of the units
• Patient Burns outperformed the benchmark and comparison cohort provided by the national database for the majority of the quarters on 100% of the units
• Demonstrating exemplary practice in implementing an innovative solution within the organization, significantly enhancing nursing operations and patient care through the Virtual Nurse program

The Magnet designation is granted every four years to only those organizations that demonstrate sustained superiority in nursing care. Applicants undergo an extensive evaluation and members granted Magnet status must continue to meet rigorous standards.