Physicians, nurses and hospital staff of the Mercy Hospital Intensive Care Unit (pictured above) were proud to be recognized with the Beacon Award for Excellence in patient care. (Courtesy of Mercy Hospital)

BUFFALO — The Intensive Care Unit at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo has earned the Beacon Award for Excellence presented by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The award recognizes the nation's highest performing hospital patient care units for excellence in professional practice, patient care and clinical outcomes.

"We are extremely proud of our ICU nursing team for achieving this prestigious honor," said Shari McDonald, RN, MSN, vice president Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at Mercy Hospital. "This award not only recognizes our exceptional staff, but demonstrates our commitment to providing our patients with the highest quality care available."

The Beacon Award acknowledges hospital units and their nursing teams who consistently set the standard for excellence in patient care. To be eligible for the award, hospital units must meet defined criteria in the following categories: leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management and learning development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurements.

AACN President Christine Schulman, MS, RN, CNS, CCRN-K, applauds the commitment of the critical care team at Mercy Hospital for working together to meet and exceed the high standards. "The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes," she explains. "Units that receive this recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care."

The Beacon Award includes progressive bronze, silver and gold recognition levels, which represent ongoing efforts to continually improve patient care. Units that earn Beacon Award designation, meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.