ECMC News & Articles

ECMC Medical Intensive Care Unit Receives National Award Of Excellence

ECMC’s MICU Earns American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Silver-Level Beacon Award for Excellence for second time in three years

BUFFALO, NEW YORK — Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation today announced that the hospital’s Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) has again been awarded a silver-level American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Beacon Award for Excellence, which is a three-year designation highlighting the Unit’s achievement of exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall patient satisfaction. ECMC’s MICU had previously received the silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence in June 2017 and is 1of 16 silver- level Beacon awards in New York State for 2020.

ECMC Corporation President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD said, “ECMC receives ICU transfers from hospitals all across Western New York because of the high level skill of our MICU caregivers. These skilled clinicians consistently provided excellent, quality care to some of the sickest patients in our community, especially during the last several months of the COVID-19 pandemic. To be only 1 of 16 silver-level MICU’s in the state is a testament to the remarkable team of caregivers who make ECMC’s MICU such an extraordinarily special Unit. Receiving this high-level national recognition is yet just another example of the high quality of care and dedication of the entire ECMC family.”

AACN President Megan Brunson, MSN, RN, CNL, CCRN-CSC, applauds the commitment of the caregivers in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Erie County Medical Center for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence and stated, “These dedicated healthcare professionals join other members of our exceptional community of nurses, who set the standard for optimal patient care. Receiving a Beacon Award for Excellence demonstrates a team’s commitment to providing safe, patient-centered and evidence-based care to patients and families. Creating healthy and supportive work environments empowers nurses and other team members to make their optimal contribution. Achieving this award is such an honor and brings such joy to those who have worked so hard to achieve excellence in patient care and positive patient outcomes.”

Established in 2003, the silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Erie County Medical Center signifies an effective approach to policies, procedures and processes that includes engagement of staff and key stakeholders. The unit has evaluation and improvement strategies in place and good performance measures when compared to relevant benchmarks. The Medical Intensive Care Unit at Erie County Medical Center earned its silver award by meeting the following evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria:

  • Leadership Structures and Systems
  • Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement
  • Effective Communication, Knowledge Management and Learning and Development
  • Evidence-Based Practice and Processes
  • Outcome Measurement

About the Beacon Award for Excellence: Established in 2003, the Beacon Award for Excellence offers a road map to help guide exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall patient satisfaction. U.S. and Canadian units where patients receive their principal nursing care after hospital admission qualify for this excellence award. Units that receive the Beacon Award for Excellence meet criteria in six categories: leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management, and learning and development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurement. To learn more, visit www.aacn.org/beacon or call 800-899-2226.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, California, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN represents the interests of more than half a million acute and critical care nurses and includes more than 200 chapters in the United States. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. To learn more about AACN, visit www.aacn.org, connect with the organization on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aacnface or follow AACN on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aacnme.

About the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation: The ECMC Corporation was established as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has included an advanced academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility. ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo. Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan. More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences – the difference between healthcare and true care.



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