Carilion's CCU Team

Carilion’s coronary care unit in Roanoke has received the Beacon Award, earned by only 242 units nationwide. Here is a press release from Carilion:

The coronary care unit at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital has been honored with the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Out of more than 6,000 intensive care units nationwide, only 242 have achieved “Beacon” status.

“This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of an outstanding team focused on excellence in patient-centered care,” said Joseph Austin, M.D., medical director of the coronary care unit. “This is an important accomplishment.”

The Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence was created by AACN in 2003 to challenge acute and critical care nurses to improve the care provided to acutely and critically ill patients. Beacon Award units meet rigid criteria for excellence, exhibiting high-quality standards, and exceptional care of patients and patients’ families.

Units that participate in the Beacon Award application process help set the standard for what constitutes an excellent critical care environment through the collection of evidence-based information.

“This award is a symbol of high quality standards as indicated by patient outcomes and professional practice,” said Carolyn Webster, R.N., chief nursing officer. “The national recognition as a leader in acute and critical care nursing further demonstrates our commitment to delivering the best care to our patients.”

For more information on the cardiac care team, please visit CarilionClinic.org.