St Jude Medical Center Honored with the Prestigious Magnet Recognition

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St. Jude Medical Center (SJMC) has earned Magnet recognition, a coveted national honor earned by only 8 percent of U.S. hospitals. This award is the highest accolade in nursing excellence that any hospital can receive.

The honor recognizes healthcare organizations that deliver an extraordinary level of patient care, demonstrate excellence in nursing practice, exceed national standards and benchmarks, and display innovation and leadership in improving outcomes.  

"Magnet recognition highlights the culture of excellence that is a cornerstone of how we serve our patients and this community," explained Lee Penrose, President and CEO, St. Jude Medical Center. "It is one of the most difficult credentials to achieve in the healthcare industry and offers tangible evidence of our staff's commitment to providing the very best care."

This designation comes after a rigorous and lengthy evaluation of patient services throughout the hospital, including the submission of over 3,400 pages of written documentation of patient outcomes and evidence-based care, as well as a three-day on-site visit by appraisers in November.

Independent research shows that hospitals receiving Magnet recognition consistently outperform other facilities, including creating better patient outcomes, shorter length of hospital stays, lower mortality rates, and higher recruitment and retention of well-qualified staff. At Magnet hospitals, staff also spend more time at the bedside of patients and patients report greater satisfaction with their care.

Magnet recognition joins a list of other national honors recently earned by St. Jude Medical Center, including being named an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center—a designation awarded to only a handful of hospitals in the state—as well as the highest rating possible from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for the hospital's outstanding heart surgery outcomes.

"This newest honor is a testament to SJMC's commitment to doing what's right for our patients. It identifies our hospital as a place where staff grow professionally and are consistently improving the quality of care they provide," said Laura Ramos, MSN, RN, VP, Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer.

St. Jude Earns Magnet® Recognition

Donna Havens, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chair of the Commission for Magnet Recognition Program, made the announcement during a conference call and lauded the hospital's strong shared governance and Professional Practice Model, ongoing advancement of staff clinical knowledge and skills, and the interprofessional collaboration and innovation exhibited throughout the medical center.

The ANCC is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association and is the largest and most prominent nursing credentialing organization in the United States. St. Jude Medical Center's Magnet status, which includes annual reviews, is valid for four years.