St. Louise Regional Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) received the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) on May 21.
The Beacon Award lauds hospital critical-care units that set standards for excellence in patient-care environments by collecting and using evidence-based information to improve patient outcomes, patient and staff satisfaction, and credibility with consumers, according to a press release.
The three-year award was presented during the annual AACN conference in Philadelphia.
“Our county is so proud of the efforts by the doctors, nurses and staff with the St. Louise Intensive Care Unit for receiving this well-deserved honor,” said Paul E. Lorenz, Chief Executive Officer for Santa Clara Valley Healthcare. “Their commitment, care and compassion for patients facing critical and life-threatening situations is vital to South County communities.”
An additional factor in winning the award was demonstrating continual learning and implementing effective systems to achieve optimal patient care, the press release continued. The Gilroy-based hospital’s ICU was recognized for ensuring that policies, procedures and protocols are current, relevant and based on nationally recognized evidence and standards.
“Our ICU is led by an incredibly strong team of registered nurses and physicians who work hard to not only prioritize patient care, but to also create a healthy and satisfying work environment,” said Gloria Dela Merced, Chief Operating Officer for St. Louise Regional Hospital.
The AACN reviewers highlighted a strong focus on communication and collaboration among unit leaders and staff. They noted that the St. Louise Hospital ICU fosters and supports this through multiple approaches such as regular staff meetings, nurse-led process improvement initiatives, and an ICU patient satisfaction survey. Patient satisfaction is collected by the Professional Research Consultants, Inc. and through the ICU patient satisfaction survey to help ensure they are meeting quality outcomes.
St. Louise Regional Hospital is a 93-bed community hospital that is part of the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare system. The ICU is an eight-bed multidisciplinary unit that provides specialized intensive care for both medical and surgical patients.
