What it means to be a Magnet® hospital

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What it means to be a Magnet® hospital

Most people know that a magnet is something that attracts metal. A person, place, object or situation that draws attraction is described as “magnetic”. But did you know that only 6% of hospitals in the nation are called Magnet®?

A Magnet designated hospital is an organization that has been recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) after demonstrating excellence in patient care in more than 35 areas of focus throughout the entire hospital. The Magnet Recognition Program® provides the ultimate benchmark for patients and their families to measure the quality of care they can expect at a hospital. It is called “Magnet” because of the ability to attract and retain professional nurses.

Reaching this designation is the result of several years of preparation and longstanding commitments to nursing and patient care through quality and process improvements as well as interdisciplinary collaboration.

“Lowell General Hospital has taken the 88 standards outlined by the ANCC and put them into practice to demonstrate our nursing excellence,” explains Amy Hoey, RN, BSN, MS, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Lowell General. “These standards cover aspects of quality patient care as well as standards to empower nurses, advance the profession, promote innovation, and provide transformational leadership. These elements combined are at the heart and soul of care for our community and provide confidence that our patients are receiving exceptional care.”

While Magnet is a benchmark for nursing excellence, exceptional patient care isn’t just about nursing – it’s the responsibility and pride of every staff member of Lowell General Hospital. Whether someone is part of our environmental services team or billing department, the pharmacy or laboratory, or a secretary on a unit, each person contributes to the “magnetism” of our organization. Personal and professional growth of all employees, safety and patient privacy, sensitivity to the needs of our patients and visitors – it all contributes to sustaining and improving the quality of our hospital.

What is the Magnet Recognition Program

The Magnet Recognition Program was developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, to recognize healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care. It is the highest level of recognition that an organization can receive for quality nursing care. Magnet status is awarded to hospitals that exhibit exemplary patient outcomes and satisfaction, have impressive nurse-patient ratios and attract and retain the best staff from all disciplines.

Lowell General Hospital is one of only 8 hospitals (out of 134) in Massachusetts that have received Magnet designation.

What does it mean for our patients?

Nurses play an important role in the overall hospital experience for patients and their families. They are the primary source of care and support during some of the most vulnerable times in a person’s life. At Magnet hospitals, nurses are experienced and attentive, and spend more time at the bedsides providing compassionate care than at most other hospitals.

At its core, reaching this level of designation proves that nursing at Lowell General is about great practice and great care.