Lahey Hospital & Medical Center Achieves Prestigious Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence

Burlington, Mass. – Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC), part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, has achieved its Magnet Hospital for Nursing Excellence designation, a prestigious global recognition that reflects the hospital’s superior levels of nursing teamwork, innovation and the highest quality of patient care.

The designation, awarded unanimously by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), is the top national honor for professional nursing practice and distinguishes hospitals and health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. Less than 10 percent of health care organizations in the U.S. have achieved Magnet status. LHMC is one of 15 hospitals in Massachusetts to earn the designation.

“Attaining Magnet status underscores LHMC’s commitment to providing our patients compassionate and evidence-based nursing care each and every day,” said Susan Moffatt-Bruce, MD, PhD, President of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. “It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our skilled nursing professionals, who are at the forefront of innovation and the practice of nursing, and our colleagues across the organization who support them.”

To earn Magnet designation involves widespread participation from hospital leadership and colleagues throughout the organization. The process includes significant reporting, written patient care documentation, an extensive onsite visit and a comprehensive review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.

“Magnet recognition provides our community with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of patient care,” said Lesley Fantasia, MSN, RN, Associate Chief Nursing Officer of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center who served as interim Chief Nursing Officer during the Magnet review process. “Achieving this recognition reinforces the culture of excellence that is a cornerstone of how we serve our community. It also represents tangible evidence of our nurses’ commitment to providing the very best care to our patients, of which we are extremely proud.”

The ANCC lauded LHMC as exemplary in preventing patient falls, sustaining a low incidence of infection rates and employing a high percentage of baccalaureate-trained nurses.

“I would like to share my gratitude and thank the community for their support during the designation process,” said Karri Davis, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CCRN, FAB, Director of Nursing Excellence and Magnet Program Director. “Many community members attended the community session as part of the Magnet application process and shared their heartfelt positive experiences at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, for which we are most appreciative.”

Scott James, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center’s newly appointed Chief Nursing Officer, said the announcement of the Magnet designation is an extraordinary way to begin his tenure with the world-renowned academic medical center.

“Receiving Magnet designation speaks to the passion and dedication our nurses bring to the hospital and the pride they have in ensuring our patients receive the best possible care,” James said. “Magnet is the gold standard for nursing excellence, and it is through our nurses’ impressive collective efforts that we celebrate this milestone achievement.”

Research indicates that Magnet recognition illustrates higher patient satisfaction, increased job satisfaction among the nursing team, and unmatched quality of service as a health care organization.

The Magnet designation is awarded for a four-year period, during which time hospitals must continue to uphold the components and policies of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program. Hospitals must apply for redesignation every four years to maintain the distinction.