Sky Lakes earns excellence award

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KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Sky Lakes Medical Center’s Intensive Care/Critical Care Unit recently earned a silver-level Beacon Award of Excellence, conferred by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

The three-year Beacon Award of Excellence recognizes exceptional patient care and healthy work environments. It follows a rigorous application process in which the unit demonstrated that its practices aligned with the AACN’s standards for optimal patient care.

“Receiving a Beacon Award for Excellence is recognition of the Sky Lakes team’s commitment to providing safe, patient-centered and evidence-based care to patients and families,” said Annette Cole, RN, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care at Sky Lakes.

“This award is independent validation of the team’s hard work to always provide excellent care to our patients and their families,” said Christie Wiles, RN, director of the Sky Lakes ICU/CCU. “It also recognizes that we have a workplace that encourages teamwork and empowers team members to make their optimal contribution.”

“The Beacon Award shows the dedication of everyone here has to providing great patient care,” said Jennifer Jacobs, RN, manager of the unit. “I’m proud of the work we do and honored to be a part of an organization that values that work.”

Units that receive the Beacon Award for Excellence meet criteria in six categories: Leadership structures and systems, appropriate staffing and staff engagement, effective communication, learning and development, evidence-based practice and processes, and outcome measurement.