For a second consecutive term, the Emergency Nurses Association has recognized Nemours Children's Hospital Emergency Department with its prestigious Lantern Award™. The award is given to emergency departments that exemplify exceptional practice and performance in core areas, a presence of a healthy work environment, and accomplishment in incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation when delivering emergency care.
"This award signifies a lot of hard work by our team and it's a recognition that goes beyond the walls of our ED," said Helen Case, operational vice president and chief nursing officer at Nemours Children's Hospital. "It is a true team effort by associates who are always partnering with other departments to ensure we provide world-class patient centered care on a daily basis, while keeping Nemours' commitment to quality and safety front and center."
Across the United States, only 22 emergency departments were awarded the Lantern Award this year. Nemours was one of only two emergency departments in Florida and the only one in Central Florida to earn the award.
"Every year we acknowledge departments that meet rigorous standard in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research," said Emergency Nurses Association president Karen K. Wiley, MSN, RN, CEN. "The fact that 22 emergency departments have met these standards and more in 2017 speaks volumes to the outstanding work in emergency departments across the country."
Some of the evidence Nemours Children's Hospital used to support that the emergency department model is working efficiently and is incorporating innovative practices, include:
- REACH Program - Nemours Children's Hospital developed a new model for providing care to children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays and other behavioral conditions. The redesigned care model is specially designed to reduce poor outcomes and negative experiences caused by sensory overstimulation in a typical emergency department setting. Named "Respecting Each Awesome Child Here" or REACH, it is one of the first in the country to adapt care to the needs of children within the emergency department. Several research studies are now underway to evaluate the pilot program
- Boo Boo Care Team - In many hospitals, only physicians suture wounds but at Nemours Children's Hospital, paramedics are trained to suture wounds in the ED. They are trained for six months on how to repair lacerations, treat nail-bed injuries and remove foreign bodies in soft tissue. Since the program was launched in the summer of 2014, the total length of stay for patients needing a suture was reduced a full hour per patient.
- RN Turnover is just 15 percent, with a zero percent turnover rate for controllable resignations.
In 2014, Nemours was eligible to apply for the award and was selected as one of the few emergency departments to meet the rigorous standards. A considerable accomplishment for one of the newest pediatric hospitals in the country.
The Lantern Award designation is valid until the year 2020. Nemours' emergency department team will be recognized with other awardees throughout the Emergency Nursing Conference in St. Louis and at the Hall of Honor Reception in September.
