Confetti and cheers filled conference rooms throughout UHealth – University of Miami Health System facilities on Aug. 25, as leadership, faculty and staff learned via Zoom that UHealth had received the coveted Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Magnet designation, the gold standard of nursing excellence, is a rigorous, voluntary credential pursued by and awarded to health care organizations deeply committed to delivering exceptional patient care, fostering innovation and advancing professional nursing practice.
But the news got better: the ANCC representative on the screens told the assembled providers that UHealth had received the even-higher Magnet with Distinction designation, making it one of fewer than 1% of health systems — and the first health system in Florida — to receive the elite honor, which acknowledges health care organizations that demonstrate the absolute highest standards of nursing excellence, patient outcomes and innovation.
“This is an historic achievement, something we can all celebrate, as it signals our clinical excellence and institutional strength.”
“We are enormously proud to have earned Magnet with Distinction designation,” said Elizabeth L. Vieito-Smith, D.N.P., RN, chief nursing officer for UHealth. “It is a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence, and we couldn’t have achieved it without our nearly 4,300 nursing staff members, and the support and collaboration of our dedicated leadership, faculty and staff across the UHealth system.”
According to the ANCC, Magnet-designated organizations offer several benefits, including:
- High-quality and safer care, which is reflected in lower mortality rates, fewer patient falls and reduced rates of hospital-acquired infections
- Cultivating an outstanding work environment where nurses are empowered, supported and encouraged to grow professionally
- Dedication to the highest standards of nursing practice, professional development and the integration of nursing expertise in decision-making
- Attracting and retaining an engaged and experienced workforce of highly skilled nurses
“This is an historic achievement, something we can all celebrate, as it signals our clinical excellence and institutional strength,” said Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., chief executive officer of UHealth. “Our nurses play a critical role in our world-class patient care, and this designation with distinction by the ANCC is recognition of the commitment to quality we all share.”
Achieving Magnet with Distinction designation aligns with the focus of Dr. Parekh in leading UHealth. He has placed innovation, increasing patient access and being the employer of choice for nurses and all providers and staff as a pillar achievement.
To earn this distinction, organizations must demonstrate excellence across every component of the Magnet model: transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, innovations and improvements and empirical outcomes. In summer 2024, UHealth submitted years of comprehensive documentation and supporting evidence to the ANCC, which culminated in a successful site visit in June.
“We could not be prouder that UHealth has been recognized for its commitment to nursing excellence,” said Kymberlee Manni, Ph.D., chief executive officer of University of Miami Hospital and Clinics. “Our patients can trust they will receive excellent care across the continuum at all our facilities.”
