Passavant Achieves Magnet Designation

Did you know that it is the nurses that make a hospital great? When your hospital has a large percentage of nurses that have worked continuously for thirty years, you know that must be a great hospital. That is the case in my town's hospital. In addition to the many long time nurses, we have several retired nurses that volunteer at the hospital. Nurses are some of the hardest workers in a hospital. I have an aunt who is an R.N. and several friends who are also Registered Nurses. I know how dedicated they are and how hard they all work.

Many nurses spend a lot of time walking and standing. Nurses also need to be careful in order to stay safe. Nurses care for people who have diseases that they can catch too. And nurses can get hurt while helping to move patients. Nurses also need to guard against radiation from x-rays and chemicals in medicine. Because patients need 24-hour care, hospital nurses often work nights, weekends, and holidays. A great website about being a nurse can be found at this link.

There is a day of recognition for nurses on May 6th--called National Nurses Day. Hopefully all the hard working nurses are honored on this day each year. Our hospital nurses got a little extra recognition this year. They won't brag about it, so I'll be glad to do it.

I want to congratulate all my friends at Jacksonville's Passavant Area Hospital, especially the super nursing staff for earning national recognition for nursing excellence! It's one of the highest levels of recognition a hospital can achieve. Passavant Area Hospital has achieved Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credential Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. Shame on the local newspaper for not reporting this news.

Passavant is among the 5 percent of hospitals nationwide to achieve the Magnet Recognition®, and one of only 19 in Illlinois.

As stated in their press release, the Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes health care organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing practice and adherence to national standards for the organization and delivery of nursing services. Applicants undergo a rigorous evaluation that includes extensive interviews and review of nursing services. Research shows there are clear benefits to hospitals that are awarded Magnet® status and to the communities they serve:

• Healthcare consumers have more confidence in the overall quality of a hospital if it has achieved the level of excellence established by the Magnet Recognition Program®.


• Magnet® designated facilities consistently outperform other facilities in recruiting and retaining nurses resulting in increased stability in patient care and patient satisfaction.


• Because quality nursing is one of the most important factors in enlisting high caliber physicians and specialists, Magnet® status becomes an attractive force that extends to the entire facility.

ANCC is the largest and most prominent nursing credentialing organization in the United States. Passavant's Magnet® status is valid for four years.

This is not the first time our hospital has achieved recognition. Passavant is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO), and in 2006, was named one of the top two hospitals in the State and one of the top 10 percent in the nation to administer antibiotics 60 minutes prior to surgery by the Illinois Hospital Association (IHS). Passavant also received the 2006 Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety from HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings company.

I have driven past the hospital going to and from work for the last 14 years and have watched it grow. It is currently expanding it's Emergency Room. According to it's website, the $16.7 million expansion will double the EDs size to over 25,000 square feet. The new department will have two levels, with a lower level serving as storage space. The ED will feature 22 treatment rooms, with built-in imaging units in the trauma rooms and a dedicated CT scan for the Department.

The hospital is the second largest employer in town. Again, congratulations to a great hospital and especially the nursing staff for the Magnet Recognition®. I know I speak for many people who appreciate all you do. And to nurses everywhere, thank you for all you do!