Baxter Regional Medical Center joined some rare company Thursday, being awarded Magnet status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program. The Magnet distinction, which is held by 547 hospitals worldwide, recognizes a facility’s nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care.
Only about 9% of all U.S. hospitals receive the Magnet designation, and Baxter Regional is one of only five in Arkansas to be recognized as such. Geographically, the closest Magnet hospitals to BRMC are found in Conway, Memphis, Tulsa and St. Louis.
Baxter Regional President/CEO Ron Peterson talks about the hospital receiving the Magnet distinction.
Listen:
The Magnet Recognition Program judges hospitals based on a wide array of metrics like patient safety, quality of care, the number of good patient outcomes and nurse satisfaction. To be considered for Magnet distinction, all nursing leaders must have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or be certified in their specialty. The hospital must also develop and implement a shared governance plan where nurses from each hospital unit work together to improve patient care.
To qualify for Magnet consideration, a hospital must outperform the mean of all Magnet hospitals in the metrics used by the Magnet Recognition Program and sustain that level of performance for two years.
Baxter Regional Chief Nursing Officer Shannon Nachtigal says Magnet status is something the hospital has been chasing for nine years.
Listen:
Peterson says a near-decade’s worth of improvements has led to patients receiving a higher level of care today compared to nine years ago.
Listen:
Baxter Regional applied for Magnet consideration in the summer of 2018. The hospital then had a year to submit all of the required documents, including 100 actions taken to improve patient care in recent years. BRMC had to complete two research studies as part of the Magnet qualifications, and is currently working on its third research project.
Magnet surveyors visited BRMC in March 2020, touring the facility, interviewing more than 500 hospital employees and meeting more than a dozen community leaders.
Nachtigal recalls the surveyors’ visit.
Listen:
During the March visit, Baxter Regional received five “exemplars,” or special recognition for excellence in a certain part of the application process. BRMC’s exemplars involved patient care, community involvement and COVID-19 outpatient treatment.
Nachtigal explains Baxter Regional’s exemplar for COVID-19 treatment.
Listen:
Surveyors also asked hospital officials to publish 10 scientific journal articles about its quality improvement efforts.
The Magnet distinction is valid for four years. Baxter Regional will apply for redesignation in July 2025.
Nachtigal says the redesignation will keep the staff aimed at making more improvements.
Listen:
Baxter Regional achieved Magnet distinction on its first application, something that BRMC officials said was very rare. What’s more, Nachtigal says the hospital did not hire an outside consultant to help shepherd it through the application process.
Listen:
Baxter Regional is inviting the public to help it celebrate its Magnet recognition at the July 9 Friday Night Live summer concert event at Hickory Park. Baxter Regional is one of the event’s sponsors that night.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI