HERSHEY, Pa. — For the fourth consecutive time, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has earned Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet status is the highest national recognition awarded to a hospital or medical center for excellence in nursing. It is considered the gold standard of patient care and gives health care consumers a benchmark to measure the quality of nursing care.
The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center also earned Magnet designation in 2007, 2012 and 2017, making it one of just 116 hospitals to be recognized four consecutive times.
“The ANCC keeps raising the bar, and our teams continue to break new ground in excellence — from professional development and collaborative care to problem-solving and new best practices,” said Michele Szkolnicki, Hershey Medical Center’s senior vice president and chief nursing officer.
Health care organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality. Such organizations must provide documented evidence to demonstrate how staff members sustained and improved Magnet concepts, performance and quality over the four-year period since the organization received its most recent recognition.
In issuing the redesignation, the ANCC called out Hershey Medical Center for:
- A commitment to patient safety by reducing falls with injury in the outpatient setting.
- Patient satisfaction in the ambulatory setting, underscoring a commitment to patient-centered care.
- Fostering innovation and partnerships, with a goal of improving patient outcomes and operational excellence.
“This is a significant accomplishment during normal times, and an amazing achievement in these extraordinary times,” said Deborah Berini, Hershey Medical Center president. “Magnet redesignation underscores the high quality of care that our team provides to patients and their families each and every day. I am so proud that our team continues to set the standard for excellence in patient care in our region.”
The ANCC established the Magnet recognition program in 1994. Research has shown exceptional patient care outcomes at Magnet hospitals, where supportive nurse leaders create a culture that empowers nurses, values their contributions, encourages professional development, and supports nursing leadership.