HERSHEY, Pa. — Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has once again earned Magnet recognition, the highest national honor for nursing excellence.

The Medical Center is part of an elite group of 468 Magnet organizations worldwide. Less than 12 percent of registered hospitals in the U.S. have earned this recognition.

This marks the Medical Center’s third consecutive Magnet designation, also having earned it in 2007 and 2012.

“Achieving Magnet designation for the third time recognizes the continuous pursuit of excellence in nursing practice and patient focused care,” said Judy Himes, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Hershey Medical Center. “It truly reflects the entire organization’s commitment to quality, safety, value and, most importantly, the patient experience.”

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) developed the Magnet Recognition Program to single out health care organizations for their outstanding quality and professionalism, providing consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care they can expect to receive.

In issuing the redesignation, the ANCC singled out the Medical Center for outstanding interprofessional collaboration on quality improvement initiatives led or co-led by nurses.

“This well-deserved designation recognizes the contributions of many dedicated caregivers at Hershey Medical Center, and is tangible evidence of our nurses’ commitment to providing the very best care to the people we serve,” said Alan Brechbill, executive director for hospital operations at Penn State Health.

Seventy-six percent of the Medical Center’s nurses have a bachelor of science in nursing degree or higher.

To achieve Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. The process includes an electronic application, written documentation, data analysis, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.