Aug. 21, 2009

CONTACT:
Communications Department
(320) 251-2700, ext. 74980

St. Cloud Hospital receives national award for critical care excellence

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Intensive Care Unit at St. Cloud Hospital is honored to be a recipient of the 2009 Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence. This is the second time the ICU has received the Beacon Award given by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
The Beacon Award is given to recognize Intensive Care Units that:

Exhibit high quality standards;
Provide exceptional care of patients and their families; and
Exhibit excellence in collaboration, communication and partnerships that support the value of healing and healthy work environments.

Because it provides units a way to report their systems, outcomes and environment, this award is increasingly linked to patient safety initiatives.

The award is evidence to the commitment and collaboration of care amongst a multidisciplinary team including nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, social workers, dietitians and chaplains. Only 29 other Intensive Care Units of an estimated 6,000 ICUs in the United States have achieved the award more than once since the AACN first launched the Beacon Award in the fall of 2003. The first recipients of the Beacon Award were announced in the spring of 2004.

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