VCU news

By Cassie Williams Jones

The Women’s Care Wing at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center was recently awarded a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The gold designation is the highest of the three levels awarded.

The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone marking exceptional patient care and healthy work environments — recognizes unit caregivers who successfully achieve superior patient outcomes and model the AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. The Women’s Care Wing provides comprehensive surgical and medical care for female patients. The multidisciplinary unit is available to women receiving medical and surgical care, including benign gynecology, gynecologic oncology, urogynecology, pelvic floor reconstruction and general surgery.

“This award signifies the Women’s Care Wing staff’s commitment to patient care,” said John Duval, CEO of MCV Hospitals. “This achievement was made possible through their hard work and dedication, and I commend them for earning this well-deserved recognition.” 

The gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by the Women’s Care Wing at VCU Medical Center signifies excellent and sustained unit performance and patient outcomes. The Women’s Care Wing at VCU Medical Center earned a gold 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, Learning and Development
·        Evidence-Based Practice and Processes
·        Outcome Measurement

“Earning a gold-level award is a great honor for the Women’s Care Wing,” said Mary Kay Beasley, nurse manager, Women’s Care Wing. “The staff possesses the teamwork, drive and compassion to provide essential patient care, and they truly deserve this recognition.”

AACN President Vicki Good applauded the commitment of the caregivers at the Women’s Care Wing at VCU Medical Center for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence. These dedicated health care professionals join other members of the exceptional community of nurses who set the standard for optimal patient care.

“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes,” Good said. “Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care.”

Other units at VCU Medical Center that have received this award in recent years include the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, Hume-Lee Transplant Center, the Medical Psychiatry Unit, Medicine Telemetry/Progressive Intensive Care Unit, Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, Medical Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, Acute Care Surgery Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit,  Surgery Trauma Intensive Care Unit and the Psychiatric Medical Unit.