PHILADELPHIA (November 26, 2013)—Fox Chase Cancer Center, the first acute care hospital in Pennsylvania and specialty hospital in the country to receive Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®, has been designated with this prestigious recognition for the fourth time in a row—now making it the first hospital in Pennsylvania to have achieved three successful re-designations. This designation is the nation's highest form of recognition for nursing excellence and is one of the benchmarks used to measure the quality of care patients receive.
"Earning this re-designation is a substantial accomplishment for both our Nursing Department and the Center as a whole," says Richard I. Fisher, MD, President and CEO of Fox Chase. "Our ability to sustain our Magnet designation since 2000 is a testament to the dedication and commitment of all the staff here at Fox Chase."
The Magnet Recognition Program provides a framework to recognize excellence in: the management philosophy and practices of nursing services; adherence to standards for improving the quality of patient care; leadership of the chief nurse executive in supporting professional practice and continued competence of nursing personnel; and attention to the cultural and ethnic diversity of patients and their significant others, as well as to the care providers in the system.
Published research has shown that hospitals with Magnet designation have positive outcomes for patients, nurses and the workplace. Patients receiving care at Magnet hospitals have been recorded as experiencing lower mortality rates and greater satisfaction during their stay, and are able to go home sooner.
"This designation validates the excellence in care, the continued efforts to enhance the patient experience, our ability to outperform our peer group institutions in several key metrics, and our continued ability to foster innovation in care through intraprofessional collaboration," says Anne Jadwin, RN, MSN, AOCN, NE-BC, Vice President of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer at Fox Chase. "As the first Magnet facility in the state of Pennsylvania, we continue to be part of an elite group of institutions who are recognized for both quality outcomes and a supportive, professional practice environment for nurses."
The Magnet Nursing Recognition Program was established in 1993 by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Institutions applying for Magnet recognition must pass a rigorous review, designed to demonstrate superior nursing and excellence in patient care. Magnet recognition is valid for four years, after which the recipient must reapply.
Fox Chase Cancer Center, part of the Temple University Health System, is one of the leading cancer research and treatment centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation's first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center's nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence four consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. For more information, visit Fox Chase's Web site at http://www.foxchase.org or call 1-888-FOX CHASE or (1-888-369-2427).