The Magnet Recognition Program of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has redesignated Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center as a Magnet hospital — one of only 372 hospitals worldwide to achieve this prestigious distinction for excellence in nursing services and patient care.
A subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, the ANCC is the world's largest and most influential nurse credentialing organization. By recognizing outstanding patient care, nursing excellence and innovation in professional nursing practice, the Magnet Recognition Program provides health consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring the quality of care they can expect to receive.
To preserve Magnet status, designated hospitals must maintain rigorous standards and undergo an extensive reevaluation process every four years.
"Magnet recognition is nursing's top honor and accepted as the gold standard in nursing excellence," said Heidi Crooks, R.N., M.A., chief nursing officer and senior associate director of operations and patient care services at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. "To achieve Magnet status is a tremendous accomplishment and a great source of pride for our nurses and staff. To retain Magnet recognition for an additional four years conveys our health care team's commitment to caring, to compassion, to connecting with our patients — and to each other. Together we have created an extraordinary environment of healing and excellence."
When U.S. News & World Report publishes its annual "America's Best Hospitals" ranking, being an ANCC Magnet organization contributes to the hospital's total score for quality of inpatient care. In the 2010 listing, eight of the top 10 medical centers featured in the prestigious "Honor Roll" were Magnet-recognized hospitals, including Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
The hospital's redesignation is confirmation of its ongoing mission to deliver the highest level of care currently available in nursing.
"In today's complex medical environment, it is increasingly important that consumers become familiar with the Magnet designation so they can seek out the best health care providers available," Crooks said. "Magnet is a seal of approval for quality nursing care."
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