Mercy Hospital of Buffalo receives Beacon Award for Excellence

National award recognizes cardiovascular intensive care units for exceptional patient care

Catholic Health Press Release

The cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo has earned the silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). 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 CVICU nursing team for achieving this prestigious honor,” said Julie LaManna, Catholic Health director of cardiac services and director of nursing at Mercy Hospital. “This award not only recognizes our exceptional staff, but demonstrates our commitment to providing our patients with the highest quality care.”

The Beacon Award acknowledges hospital critical care units and their nursing teams
who successfully improve patient outcomes and consistently set the standard for excellence in patient care based on AACN’s six healthy work environment standards: 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 Terry Davis, Ph.D., applauded the exemplary efforts of the critical care team at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence.

“These dedicated health care professionals join other members of the exceptional community of nurses who set the standard for optimal patient care,” Davis said. “The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national 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 designations, which represent ongoing efforts to continually improve patient care. Units that earn the Beacon Award designation meet national criteria consistent with the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

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. and Canadian units where patients receive their principal nursing care after hospital admission qualify for this excellence award. To learn more, visit www.aacn.org/beacon or call 800-899-2226.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, California, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN represents the interests of more than half a million acute and critical care nurses and includes more than 200 chapters in the U.S. The organization’s vision is to create a health care 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 X/Twitter at www.twitter.com/aacnme.

About Mercy Hospital

Mercy Hospital of Buffalo is one of the largest hospitals in WNY and serves as a regional tertiary care center. Along with a wide range of medical, surgical and maternity services, the hospital houses the Catholic Health Heart Center, offering the latest surgical and interventional cardiac procedures, and the area’s only Joint Commission-accredited comprehensive stroke center with physician experts and capabilities to diagnose and treat the most complex stroke cases. The hospital is also home to the Mercy emergency center featuring 32 private treatment rooms and a rooftop heliport, as well as the Family BirthPlace providing a full spectrum of maternity care services and a level II neonatal intensive care unit. In addition, the hospital’s freestanding Mercy Ambulatory Care Center (MACC) in Orchard Park features a 24/7 emergency department and two-bed hospital.

Founded in 1904 by the Sisters of Mercy, the hospital is committed to medical excellence with its ongoing Catholic Health Mission to reveal the healing love of Jesus to those in need. For more information, visit www.chsbuffalo.org.