by Annette Pinder 

Erie County Medical Center’s (ECMC’s) Medical Intensive Care Units (MICU) North and South were recently recognized by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) with a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence. With this achievement, ECMC is one of two Level 1 Trauma Centers in New York State with more than one Gold Beacon Unit, one of seven hospitals in the state with multiple Gold Beacon units, and one of two hospitals in Western New York with more than one Gold Beacon unit. 

The Beacon Award for Excellence—a key milestone in achieving outstanding patient care and positive work environments—recognizes caregivers who successfully enhance patient outcomes and align their practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. The gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence, awarded to ECMC’s MICU North and South nurses, indicates practical and systematic approaches to policies, procedures, and processes. 

AACN President Jennifer Adamski, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, praised the dedication of ECMC’s healthcare workers for collaborating to meet and surpass the high standards of the Beacon Award for Excellence. These dedicated professionals join other members of our esteemed nursing community, who consistently uphold the highest standards of patient care. She said, “The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in outstanding units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care enhances patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care.” 

Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD, ECMC President and CEO, said, “This is an exciting and well-deserved achievement for our medical ICU nurses. ECMC receives transfers from all over Western New York and cares for some of the sickest patients in our region. This award is a very gratifying recognition from a trusted and highly respected national organization dedicated to nursing excellence in acute and trauma patient care. The AACN’s Gold Beacon Award for Excellence is further evidence of ECMC’s top-tier, nationally recognized patient care that we are known for throughout our community.” 

Among other awards and accreditations, the AACN’s Gold Beacon Award for Excellence further highlights ECMC’s reputation for top-quality patient care recognized throughout the Western New York community. Learn more about the Beacon Award for Excellence at www.aanc.org/beacon. 

The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that earn this three-year, three-level award with gold, silver, or bronze designations meet national criteria consistent with the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and the National Quality Healthcare Award. The gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by ECMC’s MICU North and South signifies a practical and systematic approach to policies, procedures, and processes that include staff and stakeholder engagement, fact-based evaluation strategies for continuous improvement, and performance measures that meet or exceed relevant benchmarks. MICU North and South at ECMC earned a gold award by meeting evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria, including Leadership Structures and Systems, Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement, Effective Communication, Knowledge Management, Learning and Development, Evidence-Based Practice and Processes, and Outcome Management.