For the sixth time, Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH), part of Jefferson Health, attained Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)’s Magnet Recognition Program.

Magnet designation distinguishes health-care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. Worldwide, only 26 of the 642 Magnet hospitals have achieved the distinction six times.

LVH, which includes LVH - Cedar Crest, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, LVH - Muhlenberg, LVH - 17th Street, LVH - Hecktown Oaks, LVH - Carbon, LVHN -Tilghman, LVHN - 1503 N. Cedar Crest, LVHN - Highland Avenue, home care and hospice services, is the only Magnet hospital in the Lehigh Valley region and first achieved the designation in 2002.

“Magnet recognition is an important acknowledgment that reflects our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to this community,” said Kate FitzPatrick, DNP, RN, ACNP, NEA-BC, FAAN, FAONL, Chief Nurse Executive Officer, Jefferson Health.

“Earning Magnet six times is an incredible source of pride for our nurses and the health system. It underscores the foundation of excellence and values that drive our entire staff to strive harder each day to meet the health care needs of the people we serve,” FitzPatrick said.

Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence. Research shows Magnet designation provides benefits to health care organizations and the community, including higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication and higher role satisfaction among nurses.

To achieve designation, organizations must sustain rigorous empirical outcomes. The re-designation process includes submission of clinical and engagement outcomes and summaries of quality improvement work led by nurses that are reviewed and scored by external experts.

If written application for survey meets scoring threshold, organizations undergo an onsite visit and final review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.

“Magnet recognition raises the bar for patient care and inspires every member of our team to achieve excellence every day,” said Chrissie Hartner, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC, HN-BC, Chief Nursing Officer of the Lehigh Valley Region.

“It is this commitment to providing our community with high-quality care that helped us become a Magnet-recognized organization, and it’s why we continue to pursue and maintain Magnet recognition,” Hartner said.

Jefferson Health has three additional Magnet designations in the system: Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Jefferson Health - New Jersey and Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital.

Health-care organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years.

Recertification is based on adherence to Magnet concepts. Hospitals must demonstrate improvements in patient care and quality. They must also provide documented evidence to demonstrate how staff sustained and improved Magnet concepts, performance and quality over the four-year period since the organization received its most recent recognition.