[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 18 (Friday, February 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E134-E135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL UPON RECEIVING MAGNET REDESIGNATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TAMMY BALDWIN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 3, 2012

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Mary's Hospital 
in Madison, Wisconsin for attaining their third Magnet recognition from 
the American Nurses Credentialing Center, ANCC.
  Since 1912, St. Mary's Hospital has provided exceptional health care 
for the people of our great community. With a wide array of health and 
wellness services, St. Mary's Hospital plays an essential role in 
providing quality

[[Page E135]]

health care and even offers free services and programs to individuals 
who cannot otherwise afford care. Over the past century, St. Mary's has 
provided $47.5 million in free or reduced health care programs and has 
received countless awards and recognitions for their efforts.
  Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing. Each year, the 
ANCC bestows the designation upon hospitals that provide excellence in 
nursing. St. Mary's was first recognized as a Magnet hospital in 2002 
and was redesignated in 2008 and again earlier this year. Magnet 
recognition not only acknowledges the high quality of care provided at 
St. Mary's, but also the excellence of the hospital's overall 
organization and leadership. The ANCC recognized the hospital as 
exemplary in five areas: transformation of leadership; structural 
empowerment; exemplary professional practice; new knowledge, 
innovations and improvements; and empirical outcomes. In addition, the 
ANCC praised St. Mary's for sustaining high patient satisfaction 
scores, empowering nursing staff, and building and maintaining strong 
community partnerships.
  St. Mary's has truly distinguished itself by attaining its third 
Magnet recognition. The rigorous application and redesignation 
processes, complete with extensive written documentation and on-site 
visits, make it difficult to attain Magnet recognition just once, let 
alone three times. Only about 7% of hospitals nationwide attain Magnet 
recognition and less than 1% have ever achieved Magnet redesignation 
twice.
  With a philosophy focused on providing personalized care for patients 
and their families, showing respect and compassion for all persons who 
come in contact with the hospital, and fostering internal and external 
community understanding and support, St. Mary's Hospital is yet another 
reason I am so proud to represent the Second Congressional District of 
Wisconsin. For the third time, I am honored to offer hearty 
congratulations to the nurses, doctors, staff, and volunteers that work 
to make St. Mary's Hospital a prestigious Magnet hospital.

                          ____________________