Memorial Medical Center Earns Fourth Magnet Designation for Nursing Excellence

[June 30, 2021]  For the fourth time in a row, Memorial Medical Center has received the highest honor a healthcare organization can attain for nursing excellence, a rare achievement reached by only 2 percent of the nation’s hospitals.

In a videoconference call to Memorial Medical Center leaders on Wednesday morning, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) honored the nonprofit hospital, part of Memorial Health System, with its Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Services designation.

“This recognition is a reflection of the high achievement and professionalism of our nursing teams. Their passion and commitment to the highest standards of nursing care is second to none,” said Marsha Prater, senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Memorial Medical Center. “I am proud of their tireless efforts to provide outstanding care, implement process improvements and apply evidence-based nursing practice for the benefit of our patients.”

Magnet-designated hospitals typically report increased patient satisfaction, reduced readmission rates, fewer complications for patients and higher job satisfaction among nurses, Prater said.

In October 2020, Memorial Medical Center submitted a 1,200-page application with supporting evidence for Magnet re-designation. The documentation was reviewed in-depth by three Magnet program appraisers from across the United States, who then conducted a three-day virtual site visit at the hospital on April 28-30 and interacted with more than 400 nursing staff members as well as physicians, organizational leaders and patients and their families.

“Being recognized as a Magnet organization four consecutive times indicates the extraordinary care that Memorial Medical Center’s nurses deliver each day to patients and families," said Charles Callahan, Memorial Medical Center president and CEO. “That it comes during the global pandemic underscores our nursing colleagues' dedication to improving the health of the people and communities we serve.”

Recognized as the gold standard for nursing excellence, the ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program honors healthcare organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing practice and adhere to more than 100 national standards for excellence in patient outcomes and the delivery of nursing services.

Standards of nursing care evaluated by the Magnet program include nursing leadership and clinical expertise, support for professional development and national certification of staff, commitment to quality of care and emphasis on teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The ANCC developed the Magnet Recognition Program in 1990 to recognize hospitals that provide the best nursing care and support professional nursing practice. The program also provides a network for nurses around the nation to communicate successful practices and strategies.

[Michael Leathers]