MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Receives Prestigious Magnet® Designation for a Fifth Consecutive Time

Joining Only 1% of Hospitals Nationwide in Meeting Rigorous Quality and Nursing Excellence

WASHINGTON – MedStar Georgetown University Hospital proudly announces it has achieved Magnet® designation for the fifth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).  MedStar Georgetown is honored to be one of an elite group of only 55 Magnet® recognized hospitals who have received this designation five times. This represents only 1% of hospitals across the nation.

MedStar Georgetown was the first hospital in Washington, D.C., to achieve Magnet status back in 2004.

“While Magnet designation allows us to attract and retain top nursing talent, it is not strictly a ’nursing’ designation, as it can only be attained through the highly functional and collaborative work between all departments and associates,” says Lisa Boyle, MD, president, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and senior vice president, MedStar Health. “As we begin to celebrate this outstanding honor, we extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all our associates for making this possible.”

On a conference call today, the Magnet Program commissioner from the ANCC shared the outcome of a recent site survey and announced that MedStar Georgetown has met its rigorous expectations of quality and nursing excellence.

“From our board of directors to our nurses, physicians, therapists, Food and Nutrition team, Environmental Services team, community members, and patients – just to name a few – everyone actively participated in our successful Magnet redesignation journey,” says Jo Ellen Carpenter, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at MedStar Georgetown. “We all share great pride in receiving this national Magnet designation!”

ANCC bestowed its first Magnet designation in 1994 with the idea that the honor would act as a “magnet” for excellence by promoting professionalism in nursing. Magnet recognition is seen as the highest accolade a hospital nursing system can achieve.

A study found better patient outcomes in hospitals whose nurses had achieved Magnet recognition. The research results were published in the October 2012 issue of Medical Care, the official journal of the Medical Care section of the American Public Health Association.

“MedStar Georgetown has met its very rigorous expectations of quality and nursing excellence, and is fully deserving of Magnet designation,” says Dr. Boyle. “This demonstrates the consistently high level of quality care and vibrant nursing culture we maintain at MedStar Georgetown.” 

Magnet recognition is bestowed upon an organization for a four-year time frame, and an organization that desires to continue to be recognized must re-apply for the designation.

About MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is a not-for-profit, acute-care teaching and research hospital with 609 licensed beds located in Northwest Washington, D.C., Founded in the Jesuit principle of cura personalis—caring for the whole person—MedStar Georgetown is committed to offering a variety of innovative diagnostic and treatment options within a trusting and compassionate environment.

MedStar Georgetown’s centers of excellence include neurosciences, transplant, cancer and gastroenterology. Along with Magnet® nurses, internationally recognized physicians, advanced research and cutting-edge technologies, MedStar Georgetown’s healthcare professionals have a reputation for medical excellence and leadership.

About the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®    

The Magnet Recognition Program® administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world, recognizes healthcare 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.