Patients at Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS)’s hospitals can rest assured they are receiving some of the best critical care in the nation, as several of the hospitals’ intensive and intermediate care units have been honored with the prestigious Beacon Awards for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). These awards recognize exceptional patient care, a healthy work environment and ongoing excellence in nursing practice.
The following units have received Beacon Awards:
- Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – Gold
- Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU) – Silver
- Trauma Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) – Bronze
- NGMC Braselton
- Intermediate Care/Progressive Coronary Care Unit (PCCU) – Silver
- NGMC Barrow
- IMCU – Gold
According to the AACN, the Gold-Level Beacon Award for Excellence is the highest honor the association provides to recognize hospital units that set the standard for excellence in critical care. Recipients must demonstrate exceptional performance in key areas, including leadership, evidence-based practices, patient safety and staff collaboration.
The Silver Beacon Award for Excellence acknowledges hospital units that have made significant progress toward achieving the highest standards in patient care. While still working toward Gold status, Silver award-winning units have demonstrated strong leadership, staff engagement and a proactive approach to patient safety and quality improvement, ensuring that patients receive consistently high-quality, compassionate care.
The Bronze Beacon Award for Excellence is awarded to units that have taken essential steps toward excellence in critical and intermediate care. These units have shown a dedication to foundational improvements in patient safety, teamwork, and clinical practices. While still in the early stages of their journey, Bronze award recipients have demonstrated a commitment to fostering a culture of learning, enhancing patient outcomes and creating a supportive work environment for their staff.
“These awards are a testament to the outstanding commitment and dedication of our nurses and healthcare teams,” said Stuart Downs, DNP, RN, chief nursing executive for NGHS. “Earning multiple Beacon Awards across our campuses underscores our relentless focus on providing the highest quality of patient-centered care and fostering a supportive, healthy work environment for our caregivers.”
For more information about services offered at NGHS, visit nghs.com.