PPH Achieves Magnet® Designation as a Health System

For years, patients have voiced their appreciation for the care they receive at Palomar Pomerado Health (PPH) system. The quality and professionalism of patient- centered nursing care at PPH has been recognized and unanimously granted Magnet status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

This places PPH in a distinguished group that represents only five percent of all hospitals nationwide that have achieved Magnet designation.

“Magnet recognition definitely sets us apart with this gold seal of approval from an independent credentialing agency,” says Lorie Shoemaker, R.N., M.S.N., D.H.A, NEA-BC, Chief Nurse Executive. “The fact that every one of our facilities met the rigorous requirements set by the Magnet Recognition Program is a huge accomplishment.”

All of the facilities within the PPH system have attained Magnet status: Palomar Medical Center, Pomerado Hospital, Villa Pomerado Skilled Nursing, Palomar Continuing Care Center Skilled Nursing and Palomar Pomerado Home Health.

“This distinction verifies to our patients and the community that you can count on PPH for top-level nursing care in all departments and across the continuum of care, from acute hospital care to skilled nursing and home health services,” Shoemaker says.

Journey to Excellence

PPH’s journey to Magnet began five years ago when Shoemaker was appointed Chief Nurse Executive.

“I met with hundreds of nurses throughout the system, on all shifts and in many different departments, to ask what we needed to do to implement nursing excellence consistently throughout the entire system,” Shoemaker says. “The feedback was resounding—it resulted in a systemwide vision of being nationally recognized for setting a high standard of nursing quality that improves patient outcomes.”

To become reality, that vision required a roadmap, a navigator and support team from every department and corner of the health system. Brenda Fischer, R.N., Ph.D., M.B.A., CPHQ, Magnet Program Manager and self-proclaimed Possibilitarian, was given the task of navigating the Journey to Excellence.

“Our decision to seek Magnet designation was grounded in the desire to be measured against the highest standards of evidence-based professional nursing nationwide,” Fischer says.

The roadmap for this journey was developed by the ANCC in 1994 to recognize health care organizations that provide the very best nursing care. Extensive research identified the quality indicators and standards of nursing practice influential in creating an environment that attracts and retains top-level nurses. By recognizing quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice, the Magnet Recognition Program provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care they can expect to receive.

“We had to document our adherence to specific criteria – the Forces of Magnetism — that measure the quality of leadership, management style, professionalism, quality improvement, professional development, interdisciplinary relationships and much more,” Fischer says.

To achieve Magnet status, PPH applied to the ANCC and participated in a vigorous, multi-faceted evaluation that included an extensive application, review and site visits, and demonstration of excellence in 190 standards of nursing care in each of the PPH facilities. In all, PPH submitted more than 3,500 pages of documentation.

Michael H. Covert, President and CEO of PPH, says, “Every segment of the organization, from inpatient to outpatient care, including every nursing floor and program throughout PPH, participated fully in this quest for Magnet and share in the honor of being recognized for providing the highest quality of nursing care,”.

Magnet = Top Quality Care, Improved Outcomes

Quality health care is measured by results, called outcomes. In Magnet facilities, favorable patient outcomes specifically refer to lower mortality rates, shorter lengths of stay and increased satisfaction.

PPH’s Journey to Excellence has produced practical applications that are improving outcomes and quality of life for stroke and heart attack patients. By adhering to continuous quality improvement and implementing evidence-based guidelines for the care of cardiac and stroke patients, Palomar Medical Center and Pomerado Hospital have been designated as Certified Stroke Centers by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Organizations. This official recognition is awarded to hospitals that meet national standards and clinical practice guidelines designed to manage and optimize care for stroke and cardiac patients.

PPH is committed to continuous improvement of patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based clinical guidelines to the care of other conditions and treatment. Priority areas include applying these best practice models of care for the treatment and care of community-acquired pneumonia, hip or knee replacement surgery, and general surgery.

Research shows that Magnet hospitals bring other clear benefits to the community because they are able to recruit and retain the best nurses. “Because quality nursing is one of the most important factors in enlisting top-notch physicians and specialists, Magnet status becomes an attractive force that extends to the entire facility and benefits the entire community,” Shoemaker says.

Journey to Excellence Continues

Shoemaker points out that Magnet is a major milestone – not the final destination – because the Journey to Excellence in nursing care is a process of continuous improvement.

Leading the way forward is the new Center for Nursing Excellence, a unique collaboration between PPH, the community and the California State University San Marcos School of Nursing. It will foster a spirit of inquiry, innovative thinking and problem-solving.

The Center for Nursing Excellence is both a think tank and an action center for enhancing professional standards of nursing care. Fischer has transitioned from the role of Magnet Program Manager to serving as Director of the Center for Nursing Excellence.

“The Center will bring together the finest nursing educators and researchers to examine health care issues, best practices and exciting innovations,” Fischer says. “We will be able to build a group of well-trained nurses for the future in addition to providing continuing education and support for nurses at all phases of their professional careers.”

“Earning the Magnet designation for all our facilities is the start of a lifelong commitment to excellence because we know we need to be better tomorrow than we are today,” Shoemaker says. “When the ANCC returns in four years to measure our progress, we will once again prove our leadership and commitment to raising the bar for nursing quality that improves the results of patient care throughout PPH, the communities we serve, and perhaps even nationally.”

Forces of Magnetism

The Forces of Magnetism at the heart of the Magnet Recognition Program are the key attributes that exemplify excellence in nursing. The 14 Forces of Magnetism that PPH documented by Spring, 2008 to earn the Magnet designation have been reconfigured and streamlined in early 2009 into five model components that reflect a greater focus on measuring outcomes.

• Transformational Leadership – Creating the vision for the future and implementing that vision through effective nursing leadership and management.
• Structural Empowerment – Promoting partnerships for improved patient outcomes through strong professional practice standards that encourage participation at all levels throughout the organization.
• Exemplary Professional Practice – Demonstrating a systemwide commitment to the potential of a strong professional practice.
• New Knowledge, Innovation, Improvements – Improving patient care by applying existing and evolving evidence-based practices.
• Empirical Quality Results – Using quantitative benchmarks to accurately measure patient outcomes.

For more information about Magnet, please visit American Nurses Credentialing Center or read the Magnet overview.