Mercy Health System achieves nursing excellence recognition
JANESVILLE, WI—Mercy Health System is proud to announce it was granted Magnet Recognition® by the American Nurses Credentialing Center on October 21. The designation is considered the highest honor in the country given to a health care organization for nursing excellence. In fact, Mercy Health System is one a few organizations in the country to achieve Magnet® for an entire health care system including all components of the organization across the two states of Wisconsin and Illinois.
“Mercy Health System is among the best and is a model system for all health care organizations in the nation,” said Deborah Zimmermann, DMP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, chair, Commission on Magnet® Recognition, in an announcement call to nurses and staff. “Mercy demonstrates to patients, their families and the community, they provide efficient, expert care at the highest level possible. This honor is a testament to Mercy’s commitment to doing what’s right for their patients.”
Mercy Health System President and CEO, Javon R. Bea, says to earn the Magnet® designation, organizations must undergo a rigorous, multifaceted evaluation. The evaluation process is thorough and lengthy, demanding evidence and testimony of optimal patient care outcomes. It includes a review of nursing practices, interviews with over 80% of our nurses, as well as interviews with our physicians and other members of the health care team. “This recognition is an assurance we have exceptional care here at the Mercy,” he said. “I am proud of all our employee partners. This is a milestone, not our final destination, as we continue our journey of fulfilling our mission to provide exceptional health care services resulting in healing in the broadest sense with all our heart and with all our mind.”
The Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes health care organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Research demonstrates that patients largely benefit from visiting a hospital with Magnet® status. Magnet® hospitals report improved clinical outcomes, fewer patient falls, fewer medication errors, lower mortality rates, and higher patient and family satisfaction. Magnet® hospitals also tend to have lower nursing turnover and an improved nurse work environment.
“Magnet® recognition means our patients won’t just hear about Mercy Health System’s quality, they’ll experience it,” said Sue Ripsch, RN, Chief Nursing Officer for Mercy Health System. “Our nurses have proven they provide compassionate, expert care and are empowered to do what they know is right.”
The Magnet Recognition Program®, which is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, is the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world, and recognizes health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. The Magnet Recognition Program® serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program® and current statistics, visit. nursecredentialing.org/magnet
About Mercy Health System: Founded in 1895, Mercy Health System is a not-for-profit, vertically integrated multi-specialty health system that serves more than one million individuals through its 70 facilities in 26 southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois communities. Since 1989, Mercy Health System has grown from a stand-alone community hospital with no employed physicians and no ambulatory care centers into a comprehensive, vertically integrated health system offering an extensive network of primary and specialty care physicians, three hospitals, subspecialty centers of excellence, insurance products, long term care, retail services, and preventive health and wellness programs. Mercy employs over 400 physicians and nearly 4,000 employees, who are called partners. Mercy Health System is headquartered in Janesville, Wisconsin.
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Note to editor: Feel free to publish the attached photos with the news advisory. Mercy Health System staff clap, cheer and celebrate, as they hear news of the Magnet Recognition® announcement.
