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Region's first to achieve status as a Magnet recognized organization

Published: Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Medical Center Becomes Only Facility in Knoxville Region to Achieve Magnet® Status

The University of Tennessee Medical Center has earned the highly coveted Magnet status. Medical center officials received notification Monday during a telephone call from a representative of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. The Magnet designation is granted only to those organizations that demonstrate sustained excellence in nursing care.

“Our skilled nurses, physicians and other clinicians at the medical center have worked tirelessly for many years to continuously improve our care processes on behalf of our patients,” said Janell Cecil, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. “We must be clear that Magnet recognition is by no means a prize or an award, but rather a data and process driven measurement of patient outcomes at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. Achieving Magnet status demonstrates to all those we care for the expertise and compassion provided by our talented and dedicated nursing staff and other clinicians. We are honored to achieve this designation.”

Along with her nursing staff, leadership team, physicians and staff members from departments throughout the organization, Cecil began the medical center’s journey with the Magnet Recognition Program more than four years ago. Applicants for the Magnet program must undergo an extensive evaluation process in order to prove the outstanding quality of nursing care provided at their institution.

Hospital leaders said the achievement should serve to reassure those throughout the region and beyond who receive health care at The University of Tennessee Medical Center that the facility meets high standards of patient care as well as leadership in nursing and innovations in the professional practice of nursing. Recognition is based on numerous quality indicators for patient care, clinical outcomes and standards of nursing practice. Magnet status is a four year designation and those granted the status must continue to maintain the rigorous standards throughout the duration of the recognition.

“Receiving this highly sought after recognition is an external validation of the exceptional quality of care received by patients of The University of Tennessee Medical Center,” said Joseph R. Landsman, Jr., President and CEO of The University of Tennessee Medical Center. “It is rewarding to see the medical center recognized with other elite providers across the country following several years of effort, including the 2,400 page written document containing evidence of our cultural focus on quality and the onsite evaluation by the ANCC to ensure that the medical center is worthy of this designation.”

The University of Tennessee Medical Center is the only hospital in the Knoxville region to achieve Magnet status and is one of two in the state of Tennessee with an active Magnet designation. A third health system is in the process of seeking redesignation. Only approximately seven percent of the nation’s hospitals earn designation from the Magnet Recognition Program. Magnet status provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care they can expect to receive at a hospital.

The Magnet Recognition Program administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world, recognizes health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. The Magnet Recognition Program serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit the Magnet website.

The Magnet Recognition Program, ANCC Magnet Recognition® and Magnet names and logos are registered trademarks of the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Journey to Magnet Excellence™ and National Magnet Conference® are trademarks of the American Nurses Credentialing Center. All rights reserved.