Santa Clara County, Calif. May 23, 2023- On May 21, St. Louise Regional Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) received the prestigious Silver Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
The Beacon Award lauds hospital critical-care units that set standards for excellence in patient-care environments by collecting and using evidence-based information to improve patient outcomes, patient and staff satisfaction, and credibility with consumers. The three-year award was presented during the annual AACN conference in Philadelphia last night.
“Our county is so proud of the efforts by the doctors, nurses and staff with the St. Louise Intensive Care Unit for receiving this well-deserved honor,” said Paul E. Lorenz, Chief Executive Officer for Santa Clara Valley Healthcare. “Their commitment, care and compassion for patients facing critical and life-threatening situations is vital to South County communities.”
An additional factor in winning the award was demonstrating continual learning and implementing effective systems to achieve optimal patient care. The St. Louise ICU was recognized for its strength in ensuring that policies, procedures and protocols are current, relevant and based on nationally recognized evidence and standards.
“Our ICU is led by an incredibly strong team of registered nurses and physicians who work hard to not only prioritize patient care, but to also create a healthy and satisfying work environment,” said Gloria Dela Merced, Chief Operating Officer for St. Louise Regional Hospital.
The AACN reviewers highlighted a strong focus on communication and collaboration among unit leaders and staff. They noted that the St. Louise Hospital ICU fosters and supports this through multiple approaches such as regular staff meetings, nurse-led process improvement initiatives, and a unit-based ICU patient satisfaction survey. Patient satisfaction is collected by the Professional Research Consultants, Inc. and through the ICU patient satisfaction survey to help ensure they are meeting quality outcomes.
St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) is a 93-bed community hospital located in Gilroy, California and is part of the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare system. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is an eight-bed multidisciplinary unit that provides specialized intensive care for both medical and surgical patients.
About Santa Clara Valley Healthcare
Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH), California's second-largest County-owned health and hospital system, is comprised of three acute care hospitals, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O’Connor Hospital, and St. Louise Regional Hospital, along with a network of primary and specialty clinics. SCVH emphasizes quality care, research, teaching, innovation, and most importantly, a focus on coordinated, compassionate and patient-centered care to every patient. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County, regardless of their social-economic status or ability to pay.
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