Exeter Hospital recognized, York Hospital remains in Cigna network: Seacoast health news
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Progressive Care Unit at Exeter Hospital recognized with silver Beacon Award for Excellence
EXETER – The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), Aliso Viejo, California, recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) at Exeter Hospital, part of Beth Israel Lahey Health. The hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) also holds a Beacon Award, which was conferred in 2022. Exeter Hospital is currently the only hospital in New Hampshire holding a Beacon Award.
The Beacon Award for Excellence - a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments - recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award meet national criteria consistent with the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.
“I am beyond excited for the PCU staff to win this award for the fourth time,” said Elizabeth Keane, director of Exeter Hospital’s PCU. “This award represents their dedication to nursing excellence for over 10 years. All the PCU staff past and present should be proud of this accomplishment.”
The silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by thePCU at Exeter Hospital signifies an effective approach to policies, procedures and processes that includes engagement of staff and key stakeholders. The unit has evaluation and improvement strategies in place and good performance measures when compared to relevant benchmarks. The PCU earned its silver award by meeting the following evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria:
Leadership Structures and Systems
Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement
Effective Communication, Knowledge Management and Learning and Development
Evidence-Based Practice and Processes
Outcome Measurement
AACN President Terry Davis, PhD, RN, NE-BC, CHTP, FAAN, applauds the exemplary efforts of the caregivers at the Progressive Care Unit at Exeter Hospital for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence.
“These dedicated healthcare professionals join other members of the exceptional community of nurses who set the standard for optimal patient care,” Davis said. “The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care.”
York Hospital to remain in Cigna Healthcare Network
YORK, Maine — York Hospital announced that, following negotiations, it has reached a contract renewal agreement with Cigna Healthcare, effective Oct. 1. The new agreement ensures Cigna members will remain within the York Hospital network of care without any gap in coverage.
“This is great news for our patients,” said Dr. Patrick Taylor, York Hospital President and CEO. “We appreciate Cigna’s good faith efforts to reach a resolution that enables its members to continue receiving the outstanding care and services they have come to expect from York Hospital. We are pleased to continue providing convenient, high-quality care for our neighbors.”
The previous contract was set to expire at midnight on Sept. 30.
Joe Andruzzi Foundation and Dartmouth Cancer Center help patients through financial hardship
LEBANON — “No one saves for cancer.” With that simple statement, former New England Patriot, Super Bowl Champion and cancer survivor Joe Andruzzi explains the financial challenge facing many cancer patients.
The National Cancer Institute reports that cancer patients are at the highest risk of financial toxicity – the negative impact of treatment on ability to pay household bills. As treatment keeps them and caregivers out of work, housing, utility, fuel and food bills continue to pile up.
Andruzzi and his wife Jen had a front-row view of the physical and emotional toll taken by financial toxicity. They saw it in their philanthropic work with pediatric brain cancer patients and their families. They heard about it from fellow patients as Andruzzi underwent treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt’s lymphoma.
In 2008, the Andruzzis established the Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF). “To date, we have provided over $10 million in grants to support more than 40,000 patients and their family members throughout New England,” says Danielle Fish, vice president of JAF. “Our goal is to help and bring hope to patients of any age, in active treatment for any type of cancer.”
In the past 5 years, JAF has provided $300,000 to 400 Dartmouth Cancer Center patients. To celebrate that relationship and its 15th anniversary, JAF kicked off a road trip with a visit to the Norris Cotton Cancer Care Pavilion in Lebanon on September 13th.
Patients in need of non-medical financial support are referred to JAF by social workers. “We fill out all the paperwork, compile the necessary documents and outline the need,” says Catherine Reed, Continuing Care Manager. Eligible recipients can receive up to $800 annually. Grocery cards for five major chains are available in amounts based on family size.
Reed now refers to JAF as her steadfast, reliable, ‘go-to’ for grants that have a meaningful impact. “A JAF grant allowed a patient to get a tooth extracted so that he could receive a life-saving stem cell transplant,” she recalls. “Another helped pay property taxes for a lymphoma patient. And, when a liver cancer patient said, ‘I will have to work until the day I die,’ a JAF grant helped cover his car expenses.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter Hospital recognized, York Hospital remains in Cigna network: Seacoast health news
