University Hospital’s Medical and Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit has won the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence given by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The award recognizes the top hospital intensive care units in the country. Until this fall, no hospital in Missouri had ever received the prestigious Beacon Award.
“The Beacon Award puts University Hospital in select company among the best acute care hospitals in the country,” said Stevan, ICU medical director. “The award shines a light on the experience and skill with which we take care of critically ill patients 24-7, 365 days a year.”
There are an estimated 6,000 intensive care units in the United States. The AACN has given approximately 200 Beacon Awards since the award’s inception in 2003.
To receive the award, intensive care unit staff demonstrated how the ICU at University Hospital meets more than 40 rigorous criteria that measure excellence and quality in seven areas.