Austin, Texas - (April 1, 2008) - The Seton Family of Hospitals is proud to announce that four of its largest acute-care facilities have received Magnet redesignation. This recognition represents the highest nursing designation awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), part of the American Nurses Association.
Once again Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, University Medical Center at Brackenridge, Seton Medical Center Austin and Seton Northwest Hospital are the only Central Texas facilities to achieve such an honor. The four-year designation was first given by ANCC in 2002.
"Only five percent of the hospitals in the United States are awarded Magnet honors," said Charles J. Barnett, President and Chief Executive Officer, Seton Family of Hospitals. "Clearly, this recognition demonstrates the teamwork and dedication Seton nurses -- in collaboration with our other highly-skilled professionals -- practice on a daily basis to provide the best healthcare to the communities we serve."
The four facilities were judged on numerous criteria, including:
*commitment to quality of care
*professional development opportunities
*levels of autonomy in practice
*working knowledge of patient outcome data and ways to
influence it
*ability to use research in daily practice.
Joyce Batcheller, Senior VP of Nursing, Seton Family of Hospitals added, "This recognition further helps us attract more nurses to join us here at the Seton Family, where currently, the best nurses in Central Texas strive each day for excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice."
Magnet designation also provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care that they can expect to receive.