Bethesda, MD—Suburban Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine located in Bethesda, Maryland, has been recognized with the silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence from The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for the hospital’s Progressive Care Unit (PCU).

According to the AACN, the Beacon Award for Excellence represents a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments and recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award with a gold, silver or bronze designation meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

“We are honored that our Progressive Care Unit has been recognized with the Beacon Award for Excellence, says Leighann Sidone, MSN, RN, CENP, vice president and chief nursing officer for Suburban Hospital. “This is Suburban Hospital’s second nursing unit to earn the Beacon Award. I’m so proud of all the staff and leaders who commit themselves to creating a healthy work environment for staff and improving patient care.”

Suburban Hospital earned its silver 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, Learning and Development
• Evidence-Based Practice and Processes
• Outcome Measurement

About Suburban Hospital

Suburban Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, is a community-based, not-for-profit hospital serving Montgomery County and the surrounding area since 1943. The hospital is a regional trauma center with centers of excellence in cardiovascular care, stroke and neurosciences, orthopaedics and oncology. Suburban Hospital’s unique affiliation with the National Institutes of Health, located across the street from the hospital, has brought world-class research from the laboratory to the bedside, providing the local community with around-the-clock access to the most advanced diagnostic and treatment protocols for stroke, heart attack and other clinical conditions.

About the Beacon Award for Excellence

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. U.S. or Canadian units where patients receive their principal nursing care after hospital admission qualify for this excellence award. Units that receive the Beacon Award for Excellence meet criteria in six categories: leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management, learning and development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurement. To learn more, visit www.aacn.org/beacon.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. To learn more about AACN, visit www.aacn.org, connect with the organization on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aacnface or follow AACN on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aacnme.