CANANDAIGUA – UR Medicine’s Thompson Hospital has once again achieved Magnet® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
“Magnet recognition is one of the ultimate benchmarks for measuring the quality of patient care because it means Thompson Hospital’s nurses – supported by other members of our healthcare team – are meeting rigorous standards for nursing excellence,” said Thompson Health President/CEO Michael F. Stapleton, Jr., FACHE.
Currently, only 424 of 6,000 U.S. healthcare organizations – including 22 in New York State – are Magnet-recognized facilities. Thompson Hospital has been a Magnet hospital since 2004, with its first redesignation in 2010.
“This prestigious honor is tangible evidence of our nurses’ commitment to providing the very best care to our patients,” said Thompson Health Vice President of Patient Services/CNO Hazel Robertshaw. “We are incredibly proud of the exceptional knowledge, skill, dedication and compassion these nurses demonstrate every day in our hospital.”
Robertshaw said Magnet recognition has become the gold standard for nursing excellence and is taken into consideration when the public judges healthcare organizations. In fact, U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality inpatient care.
Before Magnet status is bestowed, an organization must undertake a rigorous and lengthy process demanding widespread participation from leadership and staff. The process begins with the submission of an electronic application, followed by written documentation demonstrating qualitative and quantitative evidence regarding patient care and outcomes. If scores from the written documentation are high enough, an on-site visit occurs, for a more thorough assessment. The ANCC’s Commission on Magnet then reviews the completed appraisal report and votes to determine whether recognition will be granted.
“Although Magnet status is something Thompson has held for more than a decade now, it’s far from taken for granted,” Stapleton said. “The bar is being raised ever higher, and this most recent confirmation that we are meeting the highest standards is extremely meaningful to us, as well as important for our community.”
Magnet recognition is valid for four years, during which ANCC will monitor and track Thompson Hospital’s performance against several benchmarks to ensure the hospital remains in compliance with the standards of the Magnet Recognition Program®.