Inova Fairfax Hospital Recognized Nationally for Excellence in Critical Care

Falls Church, VA – (November 26, 2007) — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the largest specialty nursing organization in the world, has recognized two critical care units at Inova Fairfax Hospital for providing excellent care. The Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit and the Trauma Intensive Care Unit have each won the prestigious Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence for Fall 2007.

This award signifies that these units have:

• met rigid criteria for excellence
• exhibited high-quality standards
• demonstrated exceptional care of patients and patients’ families

“We’re very proud to be recognized and honored on a national level,” said Heather Russell, RN, MS, senior director, Critical Care and Emergency Services, Inova Fairfax Hospital. “Our nursing staff is an extremely dedicated group that’s committed to using best practices and providing high quality care for our patients.”

Inova Fairfax Hospital was one of just 17 hospitals in the country and the only hospital in the Washington, DC area to achieve Beacon Award status for Fall 2007. In Fall 2005, the hospital’s Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit was awarded a Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence.

“Earning a Beacon Award sends a clear message that these units are providing exceptional care and that their commitment to evidence-based practice is unwavering,” said Dave Hanson, RN, MSN, President, AACN.

The Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence is a recognition award program funded and supported solely by the AACN. The goal is to recognize and highlight critical care units which use quality indicators to evaluate the comprehensive environment of their unit and who reach the highest level of performance, innovation, satisfaction and quality.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world, representing the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses.  Its international headquarters are located in Aliso Viejo, Calif.  Founded in 1969, the association has more than 240 chapters worldwide and is working toward a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families, where critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.  Additional information about AACN is available at www.aacn.org.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit health care system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services including emergency and urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community we serve through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.