​Craig Hospital Granted 3rd Magnet® Designation

Craig Hospital first freestanding rehabilitation hospital to receive prestigious Magnet designation three consecutive times

Englewood, CO—Craig Hospital was granted recognition as a Magnet-designated organization for the third consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®, Monday, March 9, 2015. Craig Hospital is the first freestanding rehabilitation hospital and one of less than 100 Magnet hospitals in the world to achieve three consecutive Magnet designations.

Magnet recognition has become the gold standard for nursing excellence and is taken into consideration when the public judges healthcare organizations. In fact, U.S. News & Worlds annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.

A group of Craig Hospital nurses eagerly awaited the news during a scheduled call from the Magnet Commission Monday morning. When the Magnet Commission made the announcement cheers could be heard throughout the hospital.

Craig Hospital was first designated as a Magnet organization in 2005, and then again in 2010. The 2015 recognition ensures Magnet designation until the year 2020. This prestigious designation recognizes excellence in nursing services. The designation represents sustained and demonstrated patient care outcomes that are a result of superior nursing and interdisciplinary care.

Magnet re-designation is a vigorous process that becomes more difficult with each consecutive 5-year application.

Craig Hospital submitted documentation for the prestigious recognition in June of 2014. Documentation is scored against 5 standards including:

1. Visionary leadership

2. Empowered staff

3. Competent, dedicated, skilled nurses

4. Innovative programs and research, and

5. Demonstrated and sustained quality and patient care outcomes.

Appraisers from the Magnet Commission visited Craig Hospital January 28-30, 2015, to assess how the hospital meets the Magnet Components. The public was invited to meet with appraisers to provide comments about nursing care at Craig Hospital during the visit. The appraisers made a recommendation back to the Commission. A unanimous vote is required to receive the re-designation.

The commission for Magnet noted several exemplars including Craig’s Magnet Prize® winning (2012) Nurse Advice Line, Nurse Practitioner-driven outpatient clinic, outreach clinics, and consistent outperformance of nurse satisfaction.

“Craig Hospital is honored to achieve Magnet recognition once again for achievements in nursing and patient care. Our nurses have raised the bar of excellence within the brain injury and spinal cord injury rehabilitation specialty. This designation is an effort of forward-thinking leaders and interdisciplinary collaboration , resulting in the highest quality care for our patients,” said Craig Hospital’s Magnet Coordinator Lisa Shelton, MSN, RN, CRRN.