Valley Children’s continues to be a member of an elite group of hospitals to receive a Magnet® designation for nursing excellence, but this year’s designation elevates the organization even further. Valley Children’s is now one of only 78 Magnet® organizations in the world achieving Magnet Designation® at least five times and one of only 48 pediatric hospitals in the United States (out of more than 230) that are Magnet Designated®.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program®, which signifies the gold standard for nursing excellence, distinguishes healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards. Valley Children’s became the first pediatric hospital west of the Rockies to achieve Magnet® designation in April 2004 and also achieved designation in 2008, 2014 and 2019.
"Our fifth consecutive Magnet® designation reaffirms our unwavering dedication to children's health," stated Valley Children’s President and CEO Todd Suntrapak. "We first earned this recognition 20 years ago and today, we remain committed to a culture of excellence, with nurses and nursing leaders strategically aligned to enhance patient outcomes."
Research demonstrates that Magnet® recognition provides specific benefits to healthcare organizations and their communities. Achieving this most recent recognition has been years in the making, with 98 requirements and a committed, hard-working interprofessional team gathering data to demonstrate sustained improvements in nursing satisfaction, patient/family satisfaction and patient outcomes.
“While this Magnet Recognition® is, by definition, a reflection of our nursing care, our nurses would be the first to say that the recognition is really a reflection of our entire team – providers, support staff, folks who keep our hospital running, food being served, and every member of our Valley Children’s organization,” said Vicky Tilton, Vice President of Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer. “It takes the hearts and hands of every single team member to reach the levels of excellence, innovation and quality that we have achieved.”
To achieve Magnet® recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit and a review by the Commission on Magnet® Recognition.
When announcing this fifth designation, the Commission on Magnet® Recognition acknowledged Valley Children’s George’s Pass program as an exemplary practice in healthcare. George’s Pass is the only program of its kind in Central California. It’s designed to improve care and ease the hospital experience for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory issues (including light or sound sensitivity) and special needs. Additionally, the Commission on Magnet® Recognition acknowledged a variety of Valley Children’s quality metrics and patient satisfaction benchmarks, which exceeded national mean, median or other benchmark statistics.