Franciscan Health Adult ICU In Indianapolis Receives Beacon Award For Excellence

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – The Adult Intensive Care Unit (AICU) team at Franciscan Health Indianapolis has earned the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Silver Beacon Award for Excellence.

This three-year award recognizes the high level of care and quality of work environment of this hospital unit’s staff. Units that achieve the Beacon Award standards also meet criteria consistent with many other national quality awards, including Magnet® Recognition and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

"This is a great achievement by a great care team," said Karen Hunt, AICU manager. "I am very proud to work side-by-side with this talented and compassionate group of nurses, therapists and support team members. This award recognizes the high standards of excellence demonstrated on this unit every day."

To earn the Silver Beacon Award criteria, hospital intensive care units must meet defined criteria in areas such as:

• Leadership structures and systems
• Staffing and staff engagement
• Effective communication
• Knowledge management and learning and development
• Evidence-based practice and processes
• Outcome measurement

"The nurses on AICU are the epitome of compassionate concern some of our most critically ill patients. They deserve this award for high-tech and high-touch care," said Jim Callaghan, MD, president and CEO of Franciscan Health in Central Indiana.

"Our AICU nurses and nursing leadership work tirelessly with other members of the interdisciplinary team to improve systems and utilize best practices," said Agnes Therady, PhD, MSN, vice president and chief nursing officer. "Earning the Beacon Award is evidence of our nurses' consistent dedication to providing the highest quality care to our patients."

According to Cheryl Wolverton, PhD, RN, director of critical care nursing, the AICU nurses "are an awesome group of nurses, and this award is a testament to the outstanding care they provide every day to every patient."

Nursing units at Franciscan Health Indianapolis are past recipients of the PRISM Award, given to specialty medical nursing units, and the Lantern Award for emergency care.

In 2018, the intensive care unit at Franciscan Health Mooresville received the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence as well.