Penn State Hershey re-designated as a Magnet organization

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has once again earned Magnet recognition, the highest honor for nursing excellence in health care organizations. The Medical Center is part of an elite group of 395 Magnet organizations worldwide. Less than 7 percent of U.S. health care organizations have earned this recognition.

The Magnet Recognition Program was developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). It singles out health care organizations for their outstanding quality and professionalism, providing consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care they can expect to receive.

“Magnet redesignation underscores the high quality of care that our nurses and staff provide to patients and their families each and every day,” said Sherry Kwater, chief nursing officer. “This achievement demonstrates the dedication all of our caregivers have to excellence and to producing the best possible outcomes.”

Penn State Hershey was first designated as a Magnet organization in 2007. The status is valid for four years. Over the past year, the Medical Center submitted more than 3,500 pieces of written documentation and hosted a three-day site appraisal to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining these high standards of nursing excellence.

In issuing the redesignation, the ANCC singled out Penn State Hershey for exemplary practices in three areas: the advancement of nursing research, the use of technology to incorporate input from nurses in the design of patient care areas, and involving nurses in the development of protocols for protecting human research subjects.

“Magnet designation is above all a tribute to our nurses and to their commitment to excellence in patient care, research, education, and community service,” said Harold L. Paz, chief executive officer of Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Health System, Penn State’s senior vice president for health affairs, and dean, Penn State College of Medicine. “At the same time, this achievement reflects the dedication of everyone throughout our entire organization.”

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