The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) has been recognized with a Silver-Level Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), distinguishing the unit’s exceptional patient care and healthy work environments.
The CVICU, which provides comprehensive surgical and intensive care for Arkansas children with heart disease and defects, becomes the second unit at ACH to receive this national designation. The AACN recognized the ACH Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), which cares for the state’s most critically ill and injured children, with a Silver-Level Beacon Award in 2018. They are the only intensive care units in the state to be awarded this honor.
The Beacon Award for Excellence 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 with a gold, silver, or bronze designation meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and the National Quality Healthcare Award.
“This Silver-Level Beacon Award further demonstrates our commitment to creating a better today and healthier tomorrow for Arkansas children,” said Lee Anne Eddy, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing officer for ACH. “We are proud of the dedication our CVICU team pours into creating excellent patient- and family-centered care.”
The CVICU is a component of the Heart Center at ACH, with two cardiovascular operating rooms, two state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs, heart-lung bypass technology, and outpatient services that include regional clinics. The Heart Center at ACH provides comprehensive congenital cardiac care for a lifetime, from fetal echo interpretation before a baby is born to full support for adults with congenital heart disease.