News Release: December 7, 2010

Presbyterian Healthcare Services’ Cardiac Critical Care Unit (CCC) at Presbyterian Hospital has received the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The award recognizes the top intensive care units in the country.

There are an estimated 6,000 intensive care units in the Untied States. The AACN has given the Beacon Award to approximately 200 pediatric and adult critical care units since the initiation of the award in 2003. The AACN is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world, representing more than 400,000 nurses who work with critically ill patients.

The Beacon Award places Presbyterian Hospital’s CCC Unit in the top tier of hospitals nationally for providing the highest standards of nursing professionalism. The unit has met rigorous criteria for excellence, displaying high-quality standards and exceptional care for patients and families while maintaining a healthy work environment.

“This is a tremendous achievement for our CCC Unit and reflects the hard work and dedication of nurses in the unit who care for some of our most seriously ill patients and their families,” said Lynn Haynes, Director of Operations of the Heart Service Line. “We are very pleased – but not surprised – that our unit has received this well-deserved national recognition”.

To be considered for the prestigious award, intensive care units are evaluated on 42 criteria in six categories: (1) patient outcomes; (2) evidence-based practice and research; (3) leadership and organizational ethics; (4) excellence and innovation in recruitment and retention; (5) education, training and mentoring; (6) and promoting healing environments.

Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.