Rochester General achieves Magnet status again

Rochester General Hospital, an affiliate of Rochester Regional Health, attained Magnet recognition again in December.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. This credential is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice.

Receiving Magnet recognition for the fourth time is a great achievement for Rochester General Hospital as it continues to proudly belong to the global community of Magnet-recognized organizations. Just 461 U.S. health care organizations out of over 6,300 U.S. hospitals have achieved Magnet recognition.

“Magnet recognition is a tremendous honor and reflects our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to this community,” said Kristin Opett, chief nursing officer for Rochester General Hospital. “To earn Magnet recognition once was a great accomplishment and an incredible source of pride for our nurses. Our repeated achievement of this credential underscores the foundation of excellence and values that drive our entire staff to strive harder each day to meet the health care needs of the people we serve.”

Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to health care organizations and their communities, such as:

• Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help and receipt of discharge information.

• Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue rates.

• Higher job satisfaction among nurses.

• Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave their positions.

Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges health care organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.

“We’re a better organization today because of the Magnet recognition we first achieved 15 years ago,” said Opett. “Magnet recognition raised the bar for patient care and inspired every member of our team to achieve excellence every day. It is this commitment to providing our community with high-quality care that helped us become a Magnet-recognized organization, and it’s why we continue to pursue and maintain Magnet recognition.”