View Larger Image Employees celebrate the announcement of UAMS’ designation as a Magnet® hospital from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Employees celebrate the announcement of UAMS’ designation as a Magnet® hospital from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Image by Evan Lewis

UAMS Medical Center Achieves Magnet® Recognition for Clinical Care and Nursing Excellence

By News Staff

| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Medical Center was awarded the highest international recognition for excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), achieving designation as a Magnet® hospital.

Approximately 615 hospitals in the United States, representing less than 10% of U.S. health care organizations, have earned Magnet® designation. UAMS is now one of just five hospitals in Arkansas to hold this distinction.

ANCC is the largest nursing credentialing organization in the world and awards Magnet® status to highlight exemplary professional nursing practices, interprofessional teamwork and superior patient care.

Tammy King-Jones (center left), UAMS chief nursing officer, and Mary Helen Forrest, a business operations consultant for inpatient care, react to the announcement. They’re joined by Michelle Krause (left), CEO of UAMS Medical Center, and Rebekah Thacker, nursing director of Research, Excellence and Magnet.

Tammy King-Jones (center left), UAMS chief nursing officer, and Mary Helen Forrest, a business operations consultant for inpatient care, react to the announcement. They’re joined by Michelle Krause (left), CEO of UAMS Medical Center, and Rebekah Thacker, nursing director of Research, Excellence and Magnet.Image by Evan Lewis

“Magnet® designation is a badge of honor recognized across health care institutions and by consumers,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “Achieving Magnet® status is part of our long-term strategic goals and is a reflection of our commitment to delivering world-class care to all our patients.”

Research demonstrates that Magnet® recognition provides benefits to health care organizations, such as:

  • Higher job satisfaction among nurses
  • Higher patient satisfaction
  • Lower mortality rates

“In today’s highly competitive job environment, we are thrilled to be recognized by the ANCC for a culture that empowers nurses and the entire care team to focus on patient safety and the best possible patient experience,” said Michelle Krause, M.D., MPH, senior vice chancellor for UAMS Health and chief executive officer for UAMS Medical Center. “Magnet® recognition requires organizations to meet the highest standards in patient care, and we are incredibly proud of our entire clinical team for achieving this goal.”

“Although this recognition is from the ANCC, it’s a reflection of the excellence of Team UAMS,” said Chief Nursing Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for Patient Care Services & Clinical Operations Tammy King-Jones, PhD, RN, NE-BC. “We stand on the shoulders of many in this pursuit, and I’d like to thank our executive leadership, providers, care management team, therapists, support staff and others who have supported and encouraged us in this journey. This designation sets high expectations, and we are committed to ensuring those are met.”

UAMS employees view the announcement during a watch party in the Hospital Lobby Gallery.

UAMS employees view the announcement during a watch party in the Hospital Lobby Gallery.Image by Bryan Clifton

To achieve Magnet® recognition, organizations must complete a rigorous and lengthy process that involves participation from leadership and staff in an electronic application, written documentation of examples of excellence, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.

U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet® recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care. Health care organizations must reapply for the recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet® concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality.

The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® and current statistics, visit nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/magnet/.

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.

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