ICU at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Receives Gold-Level Beacon Award for Excellence from American Association of Critical Care Nurses
The Gold Award recognizes those who successfully improve patient outcomes and meet the organization’s stringent standards
Woodhull Hospital is the first ICU in Brooklyn to receive a Gold Beacon award; This is the health system’s fifth Beacon Award recognizing nursing excellence
Mar 23, 2023
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull today announced that its Intensive Care Unit (ICU) joins a select group that have received a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the largest specialty nursing organization in the world representing more than half a million acute and critical care nurses.The gold-level Beacon Award signifies that the hospital’s ICU maintains a positive and supportive work environment with a high degree of collaboration between colleagues and leaders, nurturing empowerment and leadership among the nursing staff. Beacon awardees are recognized for their excellent patient care environments through the use of evidence-based information to improve patient outcomes, as well as achieve greater staff and patient satisfaction. NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull ICU joins NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Coronary Care Unit and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Medical Intensive Care Unit in receiving gold-level Beacon Awards; Elmhurst’s Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and South Brooklyn Health’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) received silver-level Beacon Awards.
“This impressive achievement demonstrates the commitment and dedication of our Woodhull ICU nurses who care for acutely ill patients and their families in the North Brooklyn community,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive Natalia Cineas, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “The Woodhull ICU team exemplifies excellence in patient care, and their Beacon award is a powerful indication that they have created a supportive work environment that focuses on the highest quality of care. Woodhull’s exciting accomplishment is helping propel our overall nursing initiative to attain the highest levels of excellence.”
“We are honored to have received the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ Gold-Level Beacon Award, which recognizes the outstanding care provided to our patients by the intensive care unit’s team. Our critical care nurses, doctors, and staff members have persisted in delivering quality care compassionately even during the most challenging times. We thank our patients and their families for entrusting us with their care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Angela Edwards, DNP, RN, FABC.
“We are honored and proud to be the 1st intensive care unit in Brooklyn to receive gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. This national three-year designation marks a significant milestone on the path to nursing excellence and delivering exceptional patient care to the community we serve,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Associate Director of Nursing, Stacie Stewart. MS, RN.
“We are gratified to accept this award on behalf of the professional team who works so hard to achieve excellence in patient care and positive patient outcomes every day. Receiving this recognition is such an honor, and we thank the AACN for acknowledging the superior quality of our critical care services. We are also thankful to our community for the opportunity to be of service as their hospital of choice,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Calliste.
“Being recognized as a Beacon unit, especially while working to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the team’s ongoing commitment to providing safe, patient-centered and evidence-based care to patients and families. Achieving this award is an honor, and the team should be proud of setting such a high standard in patient care and positive patient outcomes,” said AACN President Amanda Bettencourt PhD, APRN, CCRN-K, ACCNS-P.
The gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by Woodhull’s Intensive Care Unit atNYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull signifies an effective and systematic approach to policies, procedures and processes that include engagement of staff and key stakeholders; fact-based evaluation strategies for continuous process improvement; and performance measures that meet or exceed relevant benchmarks. Woodhull’s Intensive Care Unit atNYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull earned a gold award by meeting the following evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria:
- Leadership Structures and Systems
- Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement
- Effective Communication, Knowledge Management, and Learning and Development
- Evidence-Based Practice and Processes
- Outcome Measurement
Established in 2003, the Beacon Award for Excellence offers a road map to help guide exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall patient satisfaction. North American nursing units where patients receive their care after hospital admission qualify for this excellence award.
MEDIA CONTACT: Julissa Herrera (herreraj4@nychhc.org / 718-963-8629)
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals health care system, is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Brooklyn. It is a premiere health care organization for key specialties, including surgery, cardiology, women’s health, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, renal services, and behavioral health services. Last year, the hospital received close to 300,000 ambulatory care visits and close to 100,000 emergency room visits. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.