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Highland Hospital ICU Earns Beacon Award
April 9, 2007
Highland Hospital has earned the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence, an award given by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and specifically designated to recognize the nation’s top hospital intensive care units. Intensive care units that receive the Beacon Award have exhibited high-quality standards, exceptional care of patients and their families and healthy work environments.
"This award recognizes the high level of care our nurses and other staff provide to our patients in the intensive care unit on a daily basis," said Cindy Becker, vice president and chief operating officer of Highland Hospital. "We are measured on good patient care outcomes, staff training and high recruitment and retention of our nurses." The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Strong Memorial Hospital also won a Beacon Award.
The 14-bed adult ICU at Highland sees a wide variety of patients including medical, neurological, surgical, orthopaedic, and plastic surgery. More than 60 staff members help care for 750 patients a year in the Highland ICU, according to Shari Nersinger, nurse manager of the unit. Clinical care outcomes are only one aspect of the patient experience at Highland, according to Shari.
"We also focus on providing the highest level of compassion to our patients and their families because we understand that people find themselves in our ICU during the most critical moments of their life," Shari said.
Carolyn Russell of Brighton found herself in Highland's ICU shortly after one of the happiest moments of her life.
"I delivered twins at Highland Hospital's Maternity Center and shortly after I was discharged I went to my doctor's office for a checkup and I ended up passing out. I was rushed to Highland and they found I had a bleeding ulcer. I was in Highland's ICU and it was so difficult being away from my twins, but the nurses were so caring and compassionate and so understanding. They made a difficult situation so much easier because of how they treated both me and my family," Carolyn said.
