MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Achieves Prestigious Fourth Magnet® Designation for Nursing Excellence

BALTIMORE - For the fourth time, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center has earned a Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Magnet Recognition Program – the highest level of recognition a nursing program can achieve in the United States. MedStar Franklin Square is the first in the state of Maryland to achieve this designation four times.

The Magnet designation honors medical facilities with the highest standards of patient care and innovation. Less than 10% of hospitals nationwide have achieved this designation. Only seven other hospitals in Maryland are Magnet hospitals. Hospitals that have applied are rigorously evaluated during the Magnet designation process, submitting significant paperwork to document nursing excellence and hosting ANCC Magnet representatives for an on-site review.

During a Zoom conference with Adam Meier, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Magnet Recognition Program Commission executive committee member, informed an audience of Executive and Nurse leaders that a survey revealed visible and trusted nursing leadership at MedStar Franklin Square. Additionally, he cited the family-oriented hospital culture, commitment to quality and interdisciplinary teamwork, combined with a strong reputation that keeps nurses working at the hospital for decades.

“The data that you provided outperformed your vendor's national benchmark 100% of the time for all eight quarters. Some really exceptional work there,” Meier said.

“Patients at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center should know the care they receive is rated among the highest in the country,” said Kimberly Schwenk, MSN, RN the hospital’s vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer. “This is the fourth time MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center has been honored with this designation and we know it’s because of the hard work, great attitude, and professionalism of our nurses. We are so proud to be ranked among the most elite hospitals in the country for our nursing standards.”

“It’s virtually impossible to achieve magnet status without a team, and I think that is what distinguishes MedStar Franklin Square: the richness of the collaboration and the teamwork,” said LynnMarie Verzino, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, at MedStar Health.”

"Achieving Magnet status the fourth time is unprecedented in the state of Maryland and it necessitated the dedication, focus and commitment from hundreds of people across our organization through a long and demanding process," said Stuart M. Levine, MD, FACP, president, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and senior vice president, MedStar Health. "I am incredibly proud of this recognition as it serves as an affirmation of how seamlessly our nurses and clinical teams work and innovate together for the highest quality and safest patient care delivered with an exceptional experience.”

The designation also confirms MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center’s approach to treating nursing as an integral part of the patient experience, with nurses at the hospital supported, guided and respected in their career path.

In 2008, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center was the first community teaching hospital in the state of Maryland to receive the Magnet designation. At that time, only 5% of U.S. hospitals and only two others in Maryland had achieved this honor.