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by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
MUSC's Medical
Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and Surgical
Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU) were
recognized with the silver-level Beacon
Award for Excellence by the American
Association of Critical-Care Nurses
(AACN).
This nationally
recognized award honors critical-care
units for achieving high quality outcomes
in patient care, practices and processes.
 Surgical Trauma
Intensive Care Unit staff are recognized
with the silver-level Beacon Award for
Excellence.
This is the third consecutive silver
Beacon Award presented to STICU since 2006
and second award for the MICU. MUSC is
South Carolina's major tertiary care
academic medical center, designated as a
Level 1 by the American College of
Surgeons, the only such designation in
South Carolina.
Patients admitted to Beacon units are more
likely to receive a high level of patient
care, develop fewer complications and
report a greater overall satisfaction of
care, according to AACN. Nurses who work
on these units also reportedly experience
greater collaboration between health care
teams, higher morale and lower staff
turnover.
Both units submitted applications for the
award last spring and received final
results in January. The award is presented
in three categories – bronze, silver and
gold. The application requires
comprehensive documentation of each unit's
profile, leadership structures and
systems, staffing and staff engagement
processes, communication, professional
development and evidence-based practices
and clinical outcomes. The designation is
active for three years.
The 17-bed STICU serves adult patients
diagnosed with life-threatening traumatic
injuries and patients who are
post-surgical. The STICU staff was
recognized for establishing systems and
processes through on evidence-based
practices and creative efforts to improve
patient care. Working with unit-based
councils and committees, the STICU staff
has established hand hygiene and ICU
mobility programs as well as improved
multidisciplinary collaboration. The unit
continues to approach and exceed industry
benchmarks in specific areas.
STICU nurse manager Cindy Little, R.N.,
also emphasized the unit's concentrated
plans to increase nurses with adult
critical care nursing certifications. The
team works together to increase
evidence-based practices, reduce
catheter-associated urinary tract
infections and improve movement of
patients to the operating room.
"I'm proud of our team's continued level
of excellence. Most of the STICU nurses
simply say, 'This is what we do every
day.' Our STICU councils and ad hoc
committees research best practice and
incorporate it into our routine," said
Little.
MICU nurse manager Janet Byrne, R.N.,
feels this award signifies a commitment to
excellence in her unit's daily practices.
Since winning the award in 2009, MICU's
interdisciplinary team has focused more on
outcomes and streamlining practices that
are evidence-based.
"We have a team of some of the most
intelligent, well-trained and highly
professional nurses in the U.S. They are
intelligent, selfless individuals who are
always striving to improve care," said
Byrne.
 Staff in MICU also
were honored with the award.
The MICU's policies, protocols and
guidelines are developed based on the
latest research and recommendations from
AACN and the Society of Critical Care
Medicine. Some recent innovations
established by staff are daily sedation
awakening, weaning trials, progressive
early mobilization of patients,
interdisciplinary team rounding (both
shifts) and an environmental cleaning
project.
Pulmonologist Dee Ford, M.D., also praised
the MICU team for this achievement.
"To me, the Beacon award is a
well-deserved accolade for the MICU that
reflects high standards being consistently
upheld by hundreds of dedicated staff.
It's a testimony to the successful
implementation of known best practices as
well as development of innovations in
patient care."
STICU Beacon team are: Cindy
Little, R.N., nurse manager, Patrice
White, R.N., Wendy Gibson-Butler, R.N.,
Melissa Ray, R.N., and Lynze Eades, R.N.
MICU Beacon team are:
Janet Byrne, R.N., nurse manager, Andrea
Meaburn R.N, , Deidra Huckabee R.N.,
Laurie Weatherbee, R.N. Kristin
Nivia, R.N., Damon Clembury, R.N., Marilyn
James, R.N., and Jessica Bullington,
R.N., Mary Allen, Infection Control,
Shawn Valenta, Respiratory Therapy, Dee
Ford, MICU medical director, Tori
Jacobson, Patient and Family Centered
Care, and Alice Boylan, M.D., Medicine
Acute & Critical Care Service Line
Friday, Feb.
22, 2013
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