WHITE PLAINS, NY — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), Aliso Viejo, CA, has again conferred its gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (CCU) at White Plains Hospital. The Hospital is a repeat recipient of the Beacon award; having first received it in 2014, and is the only hospital NICU in New York State to receive a gold-level Beacon Award this year.
The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments — recognizes unit caregivers who employ evidence-based practices to improve patient and family outcomes. Beacon-designated units meet criteria in five categories that are consistent with criteria for national awards, including Magnet recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and National Quality Forum’s Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards. Units that receive the award demonstrate practices that align with AACN’s Healthy Work Environment Standards. A gold-level Beacon award demonstrates staff-driven excellence in sustained unit performance and improved patient outcomes that exceed national benchmarks.
AACN President Clareen Wiencek, PhD, RN, ACHPN, ACNP, associate professor of nursing at University of Virginia School of Nursing and program director of advanced practice, applauds the commitment of the caregivers in the White Plains Hospital NICU for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence. These dedicated healthcare professionals join other nurses nationwide who set the standard for optimal patient care.
Leigh Anne McMahon, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at White Plains Hospital said, “The Beacon Award sets the standard for excellence in patient care using evidenced-based practices to improve patient outcomes, patient experience, and staff engagement. The NICU was able to demonstrate that they met the defined criteria that creates cultures which exemplify nursing excellence in leadership, communication and inter-professional collaboration, as well as knowledge management and professional development. We are the second hospital in New York State to receive this award, and one of only 18 across the country. The NICU joins the ICU and CCU as the third critical care unit at White Plains Hospital to receive the Beacon Award for Excellence!”
White Plains Hospital’s 15-bed state-of-the-art NICU provides all the technological support that a baby may need, in a comfortable, soothing environment. The NICU is designated a level III NICU, the highest level available to a community hospital. The NICU supports high-risk obstetric and fetal monitoring to allow high-risk babies to stay with their mothers during this critical time. The NICU team consists of six board-certified neonatologists and 40 specialized and certified registered nurses who provide an unrivaled level of individualized care, helping babies and families get home healthy, happy and as soon as possible.
