October 05, 2023

This summer, the McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Emergency Department received the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award. McCullough-Hyde joins Bethesda Arrow Springs Emergency Department (2020), Good Samaritan Medical Center Western Ridge ED (2020), Bethesda Butler Hospital Emergency Department (2021), Bethesda North Hospital Emergency Department (2022), and Good Samaritan Hospital Emergency Department (2022). 

The ENA Lantern Award was created to recognize emergency departments demonstrating exceptional and innovative leadership, practice, education, advocacy, and research performance. When applying, emergency departments share stories highlighting their commitment to care and the initiatives to improve nursing staff’s well-being. Applications are reviewed and scored by the ENA Lantern Award Committee. The award lasts for a three-year cycle before emergency departments are eligible to apply again.

As the only hospital system in the U.S. with active awards in all emergency departments, TriHealth’s Emergency Departments know how important consistency and preparation are in completing the Lantern Application.

“We take evidence-based practice or research projects throughout the three-year window so that we can consistently work on recertification,” said Maria Ashdown, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Good Samaritan Hospital. “Our projects demonstrate actionable items or tactics we have used to improve care, especially if we have identified any mistakes we can learn from and prevent.”
The application for a Lantern award is supported by data to help tell a story, and McCullough-Hyde has been building an application for the past two years. “The emergency department is the starting point for a lot of patients,” said Jeannie Burnie, Senior Manager, Education Services at Bethesda North Hospital. “This award means that we are practicing at a high level and excelling. We aim for consistency and coach the nurses across our all-RN staffed emergency departments on how to best write for this application.”

When asked what this award means to the team members at McCullough-Hyde’s emergency department, Ashdown said “This is the pinnacle award for emergency departments. Where the Magnet Recognition Program designates a system, the Lantern Award recognizes the specific care provided by one unit. We make sure every patient is cared for in the best possible way, and we standardize that excellence across this service line.”

Congratulations to the McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Service Line for receiving the 2023 Lantern Award – and to the additional five TriHealth emergency departments who have received this recognition over the last three years. And, in honor of Emergency Nurses Week (October 8-14, 2023), we want to extend a special thanks and appreciation for the important work our ED nurses do in our community!

Congratulations to McCullough-Hyde emergency department on your ENA Lantern Award, proud to be an emergency department nurse in TriHealth's community.
Posted by: Juanita Vordenberg on October 09, 2023
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