HICKORY, NC – Catawba Valley Medical Center has been granted its third consecutive Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), becoming one of only 30 hospitals in the nation to receive the distinction three times.

The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. Based on quality indicators and standards of nursing practice as defined by the American Nurses Association, Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence. Currently, 359 healthcare organizations in 44 states, the District of Columbia and four other nations are recognized for their excellence in nursing service.

What does Magnet really mean? Research shows that Magnet-designated hospitals are not only more effective at attracting and keeping quality nurses, but patients there have lower mortality rates and shorter lengths of stay than at non-Magnet hospitals. According to ANCC, Magnet recognition “provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care they can expect to receive.”

“Having received three Magnet designations, Catawba Valley Medical Center has consistently proven its ability to provide high quality patient care in an environment that encourages continuous staff development, nursing leadership and community involvement,” said Karen Drenkard, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Director of the Magnet Recognition Program. “This is an outstanding achievement for a local community hospital and speaks to Catawba Valley Medical Center’s ability to recruit and retain an outstanding cadre of nursing professionals at all levels.”

In 2001, Catawba Valley Medical Center became the 32nd hospital in the nation to attain Magnet status. This was followed by a second designation in 2005 and a third in 2010.

“We are extremely proud of the Catawba Valley Medical Center nursing program for earning a third Magnet designation,” said J. Anthony Rose, President & CEO, Catawba Valley Medical Center. “Studies have shown that a high ratio of registered nurses has a direct impact on quality. Knowing this, we made a commitment long ago to building an organizational culture that includes nurses in decisions and supports ongoing education and specialty training.”

“Being a Magnet hospital means that we encourage our nurses to advance their knowledge in ways that directly benefit our patients and our community,” said Eddie Beard, Senior Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer, Catawba Valley Medical Center. “This third Magnet designation shows that we are constantly looking to improve our practice and the patient experience at Catawba Valley Medical Center.”

Catawba Valley Medical Center is a not-for-profit, public healthcare system providing and promoting the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of the public in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness services, preventative medicine and acute care. CVMC, thrice recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet facility, was recently named a “Distinguished Hospital for An Outstanding InPatient Experience” by J.D. Power and Associates and a Hospital of Choice by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers.