Bronson Earns National Recognition for Nursing Excellence

September 17, 2009

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Bronson Methodist Hospital has been designated a Magnet® Hospital for Nursing Excellence. Considered the gold standard of nursing care, Magnet status has been attained by only 5% of U.S. healthcare organizations. The credential is awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association.

Research shows clear benefits to patients and communities served by a hospital that has achieved Magnet status. Magnet facilities have lower mortality rates, shorter lengths of stay and higher patient satisfaction. They also have more nurses per patient and more nurse involvement in patient care decisions which contribute to better outcomes, as well as a better work environment for staff. Magnet designated hospitals consistently outperform non-Magnet facilities in recruiting and retaining high caliber nurses, physicians and other specialists.

"Magnet designation further strengthens Bronson's role as a national leader in healthcare quality by confirming the high degree of nursing excellence present in our organization," said Frank J. Sardone, Bronson president and chief executive officer. "This directly benefits the patients and families we serve throughout southwest Michigan and assures future patients of the overall quality of care they can expect to receive at Bronson."

To earn Magnet designation, an organization must apply to the ANCC and undergo a rigorous, multifaceted evaluation of its nursing services. This includes a review of nursing services, leadership and management practices, attention to the quality, safety and ethical care of patients and other factors known to contribute to quality patient care. The evaluation includes hundreds of pages of documentation, a site visit, as well as interviews with nurses, physician, patients and their families, and members of the community. Magnet designation is valid for four years, after which the recipient must reapply.

"We are extremely proud of our nurses and the exceptional care they provide," said Neil Johnson, vice president patient care services & chief nursing officer. "Magnet status validates the knowledge, experience and commitment that Bronson nurses have to deliver optimal care for every patient, every time. It also provides an opportunity to share our best practices and innovations with other hospitals across the country. We know that following best practices improves patient safety and can help avoid or reduce costs for the hospital and the patient."

To date, there are 352 Magnet hospitals in the nation and four abroad. In Michigan, Bronson joins William Beaumont Hospital, Munson Medical Center, Spectrum Health, Holland Community Hospital and Children's Hospital of Michigan. More information about Magnet hospitals is available at www.nursecredentialing.org.

About Bronson Methodist Hospital

Bronson Methodist Hospital, located at 601 John St. in downtown Kalamazoo, Mich., is the flagship of Bronson Healthcare Group, a not-for-profit healthcare system serving all of southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. With 380 licensed beds and all private rooms, Bronson Methodist Hospital provides care in virtually every specialty - cardiology, orthopedics, surgery, emergency medicine, neurology, oncology - with advanced capabilities in critical care as a Level I Trauma Center; in neurological care as a Joint Commission certified Primary Stroke Center; in cardiac care as the region's first accredited Chest Pain Emergency Center; in obstetrics as the leading BirthPlace and only high-risk pregnancy center in southwest Michigan, and in pediatrics as one of only six children's hospitals in the state.

Bronson serves the largest percentage of Medicaid patients in the area and provides a substantial benefit to the community through outreach and charitable care. It is the recipient of the 2005 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest presidential honor for quality and organizational performance excellence. In 2009, the hospital received the AHA McKesson Quest for Quality Prize awarded annually to only one U.S. hospital, and joined the top five percent of hospitals in the nation to be designated a Magnet Hospital for Nursing Excellence.

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