ARRMC’s ICU wins a top national recognition

ARRMC’s Intensive Care Unit has achieved the extraordinary while enduring the onslaught of unprecedented challenges, overwhelming capacity and tremendous loss unleashed by the pandemic.

The ICU recently earned the 2022 gold Beacon Award for Excellence, an honor bestowed upon critical care units that achieve exceptional outcomes in:

• Leadership structures and systems.
• Appropriate staffing and engagement.
• Effective communication.
• Knowledge management and learning development.
• Evidence-based practice and processes.
• Outcome measurements.

Of the three levels of achievement, which include bronze and silver categories, gold is the highest level. It is given to units whose outcomes set the standard of care across the nation. The honor is granted by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

ARRMC ICU has applied for the Beacon Award since 2011, earning the silver twice and the bronze once. (Each designation is for three years). Only 66 units in the country earned the gold-level honor for 2022.

Receiving gold designation with this most recent application reflects the hard work the ICU team contributed every day for every patient during the past three years — the hardest in the unit’s history. The ICU team provided exemplary care and very much deserves this national recognition.

Achievement of this award is even more remarkable given the health care climate in which it was attained, and it is evidence of this team’s sheer grit, determination and commitment to quality, despite the obstacles they may face.

Due in part to the generosity of the Asante Foundation, four members of the team responsible for submitting the application will have the honor of attending the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses National Teaching Institute in May to receive the award in person.

Congratulations to the ICU staff for this incredible achievement and thank you for the passion and dedication you have shown to ensure the sickest patients in our community continue to receive excellent care.