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OSF Healthcare Saint Francis Medical Center Wins 2019 ANCC Magnet Prize®

SILVER SPRING, MD —The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) announced today that OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center (OSF Saint Francis) in Peoria, IL, is the recipient of the 2019 ANCC Magnet Prize®, sponsored by Cerner Corporation, a global health platform and innovation company.

The prize was presented at the 2019 ANCC National Magnet Conference® in Orlando, FL. It honors innovative nursing programs and practices in ANCC Magnet®-recognized organizations. Cerner supports these programs and practices by sponsoring the $50,000 purse attached to the prize. The money will help OSF Saint Francis further develop its winning proposal.

OSF Saint Francis received the ANCC Magnet Prize for its novel, multifaceted initiative to reduce food insecurity and improve health outcomes in the community.

In partnership with local stakeholders, OSF Saint Francis nurses devised a six-part intervention that includes:

  • Faith community nursing
  • A mobile Care-A-Van
  • Addition of food insecurity assessment into nursing practice
  • An education program for nurses and clinicians on the assessment and prevalence of food insecurity
  • A community gardening intervention
  • An education program for children and families

When combined, these evidence-based components produce an extraordinary example of cutting-edge healthcare delivery that extends well beyond hospital walls.

“ANCC is proud to recognize nurses at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center who have broken the mold of standard nursing practice to find unique solutions to some of our most intractable health challenges," said Rebecca Graystone, MS, MBA, RN, NE-BC, Vice President Magnet Recognition Program® and Pathway to Excellence®. “This nurse-led innovation has the potential to transform care delivery and outcomes for vulnerable populations and create a healthier community.” 

OSF Saint Francis nurses envision using technology to broaden the initiative and address many of the community’s pressing health needs. This includes adding the food insecurity assessment into a patient’s electronic medical record. Additionally, the team wants to establish a “Smart Meals” program to empower frontline nurses to immediately take action when they encounter a family that is food insecure. They also hope to conduct translational research to assess the impact of healthier eating on wound healing rates and other health metrics. Long-term projected benefits include promoting healthier behaviors, improved screening for food insecurity, appropriate use of the emergency department (ED), and a decrease in chronic illness and stress. 

“When we started these initiatives in 2016, we had a vision of taking the care of our patients directly to them – outside of our traditional brick-and-mortar walls – meeting them where they are, with what they truly need,” said Jennifer Hopwood, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center. “Through the work of the OSF Saint Francis team, in collaboration with our community partners, the initial community garden has more than doubled in size, providing fresh fruits and vegetables to an underserved area that previously didn’t have access to what many of us take for granted. Our Care-A-Van visits thousands of patients each year, accounting for a 2.5% reduction in ED visits. We are excited that this work is positively impacting social determinants of health for those who live in these targeted areas of our community.”

The Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and uphold the tradition of professional nursing practice. ANCC Magnet Prize-winning organizations must meet specific criteria, such as extraordinary nursing activities sustained over an extended period of time, innovations beyond the characteristics of Magnet organizations, or positive outcomes demonstrated by, and empirically linked to, the innovation.

“As demand for nurses becomes greater, it’s important to recognize those who work to improve the quality of patient care through innovative ideas. Cerner is honored to be a part of this program that rewards nurses for going above and beyond to transform health care,” said Eva Karp, MD, Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Patient Safety Officer, Cerner Corporation. “We commend OSF Saint Francis for working to make a lasting impact on their community.”

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About the ANCC Magnet Prize

The ANCC Board of Directors established the Magnet Prize to encourage the pursuit of excellence. The prize recognizes organizations with unique programs where innovative action transforms nursing practice. The interventions and outcomes benefit the nursing profession as a whole and have direct impact on patients in various settings. This award serves as a means for acknowledging peak performance within credentialed Magnet organizations and is the highest honor ANCC bestows within the Magnet community. Cerner has sponsored the award since 2007.

About ANCC
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and healthcare globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes healthcare organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits healthcare organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. For more information about ANCC, visit us at nursingworld.org/ancc and follow us on Twitter. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification.

About Cerner

Cerner’s health technologies connect people and information systems at more than 27,500 contracted provider facilities worldwide dedicated to creating smarter and better care for individuals and communities. Recognized globally for innovation, Cerner assists clinicians in making care decisions and assists organizations in managing the health of their populations. The company also offers an integrated clinical and financial system to help manage day-to-day revenue functions, as well as a wide range of services to support clinical, financial and operational needs, focused on people. For more information, visit Cerner.comThe Cerner Blog or connect on FacebookInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or The Cerner Podcast. Nasdaq: CERN. Smarter Care. Better Outcomes. Healthier You.

About OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center

OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, with 629 beds, is the fifth-largest medical center in Illinois. A major teaching affiliate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, it is the area’s only Level I Trauma Center, the highest level designated in trauma care. It serves as the resource hospital for emergency medical services for north-central Illinois. It is home to OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois and the OSF Illinois Neurological Institute. OSF Saint Francis and Children’s Hospital have been Magnet recognized for excellence in nursing care since 2004. Learn more at https://www.osfhealthcare.org/saint-francis/

MEDIA CONTACTS:

ANCC:

Shannon McClendon, 301-628-5391

shannon.mcclendon@ana.org 

OSF:
Shelli Dankoff 309-655-3897
shelli.j.dankoff@osfhealthcare.org

Cerner:

Misti Preston 816-299-2037
misti.preston@cerner.com

 

 

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