ATLANTA – Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital is the first community hospital and one of only two hospitals in the world to achieve its seventh consecutive Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program. Additionally, Emory Saint Joseph’s exceeded Magnet expectations during its survey and site visit process, and is the first hospital awarded Magnet with Distinction.

Dozens of nurses, physicians, administrators, staff and other members of the Emory Saint Joseph’s community were on hand for the announcement this week. Magnet designation is a reflection of nursing professionalism, teamwork and quality in patient care, and the highest national honor for professional nursing practice.

On Nov. 29, the ANCC commended Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in eight areas of excellence, including:

• maintaining 80% or greater of professional registered nurses earning higher degrees in nursing
• outperforming benchmarks on falls with injury, surgical errors, and patient experience with careful listening in 100% of outpatient settings and
• outperforming benchmarks on patient experience with patient education, among other examples, in 100% of inpatient settings

The ANCC also recognized the hospital for exceptional health promotion in rural Georgia hospitals by offering remote inpatient monitoring of critical care patients through Emory’s eICU (electronic Intensive Care Unit) Program, which was established at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in 2014.

Magnet recognition has been shown to provide specific benefits to health care organizations and their communities, such as:

• Higher patient satisfaction
• Lower mortality rates
• Higher job satisfaction among nurses
• Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave their positions

Emory Saint Joseph’s is a part of Emory Healthcare, the only health care system in Georgia to have five hospitals recognized by Magnet, including Emory University Hospital, Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, Emory Johns Creek Hospital and the Emory Clinic, which was the first ambulatory clinic in Georgia to receive Magnet recognition last year.

“Magnet recognition demonstrates that nursing excellence and the drive to provide outstanding patient care permeates the culture of a health care institution,” says Sharon Pappas, PhD, RN, FAAN, chief nurse executive for Emory Healthcare. “That culture is clearly a cornerstone at Emory Saint Joseph’s, which time and again has been recognized for its commitment to its community and patients.”

To achieve initial Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written documentation, an on-site visit and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition. Health care organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality.

Magnet recognition is also taken into consideration when health care organizations are ranked nationally for their clinical programs and expertise.