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Centra Health's nursing care receives nation's highest honor

July 18, 2005

Centra Health received the nation's highest honor for nursing services Monday when it earned Magnet Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

The award, earned by less than 160 hospitals in the country, recognizes excellence in 14 rigorous standards that touch all aspects of superior nursing, from patient care quality to nursing education and leadership. Magnet facilities also consistently rank among the most successful hospitals in recruiting and retaining nurses.

"We are elated. This is the gold standard for nursing," said Golden Bethune, senior vice president of nursing services for Centra Health. "I am humbled by the magnitude of this award yet so proud of our nurses who exhibit the qualities of Magnet nursing every day.

"This is a major milestone for Centra Health, and for our patients and our community," said George Dawson, Centra Health president and CEO. "Less than 3 percent of hospitals in the country have been able to earn Magnet status. Magnet recognition will help us continue to attract and retain the best nurses in the country and ensure that our patients receive top notch care."

In 1983, the American Academy of Nursing's task force on nursing practice in hospitals conducted a study of U.S. hospitals. The research identified and described variables that created an environment that attracted and retained well-qualified nurses. These variables were called forces of magnetism, and the institutions were called magnets because they attracted and kept good nurses. The study found that quality patient care was provided through sustaining excellence in nursing services.

The 14 forces of magnetism, which all Magnet hospitals meet, include quality care, quality improvement, professional development, shared governance, professional models of care and quality of nursing leadership. Magnet also provides a vehicle for sharing successful practices and strategies among nursing systems.

Centra Health has more than 4,000 skilled health care professionals, including about 800 nurses and 300 physicians. In addition to Magnet recognition, Centra Health has received a number of national accolades. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses awarded its prestigious Beacon Award to Lynchburg General Hospital's cardiovascular unit, and the Wall Street Journal featured Lynchburg General Hospital's Medical Intensive Care unit in a story on quality improvements in ICUs and the unit won VHA awards for its work on reducing sepsis mortality and achieving eight months without a nosocomial ventilator associated pneumonia.

In addition, Money Magazine included Lynchburg General in a profile of the nation's top orthopedic programs; Centra Health's Stroobants Heart Center received VHA's Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence for surpassing national standards in treating patients with emergency heart problems, and Centra Health consistently earns patient satisfaction scores that are among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the country.

For more information about the Magnet Recognition or nursing at Centra Health, contact Susan Brandt, 434-947-4731.