Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Earns National Recognition for Nursing Excellence

First hospital of its kind to receive Magnet award

July 25, 2005

CHICAGO - Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) is the first independent rehabilitation hospital in the country to receive the prestigious Magnet award for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

"The Magnet designation is a tremendous achievement for RIC," says Wayne Lerner, DPH, president and CEO. "It's one of the highest levels of recognition a hospital can achieve. Being the first hospital of our kind to ever receive Magnet status is a wonderful testament of the excellent work our nurses do each day to help people with disabilities achieve the highest levels of independence and functioning possible."

"To achieve Magnet status is a great source of pride for our nurses," says Laura Ferrio, RN, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing executive. "The Magnet designation underscores the commitment of our entire staff to continually strive harder each day to meet the health care needs of the people we serve."

The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes health care organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing philosophy and practice, adherence to national standards for improving patient care, leadership and sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity. Applicants undergo a rigorous evaluation that includes extensive interviews and review of nursing services, clinical outcomes and patient care. Research shows there are clear benefits to hospitals that are awarded Magnet status and to the patients they serve:

• Magnet-designated facilities consistently outperform other facilities in recruiting and retaining nurses - resulting in increased stability in patient care and positive patient outcomes.
• Because quality nursing is one of the most important factors in enlisting high-caliber physicians, Magnet status becomes an attractive force that extends to the entire facility.
• Health care consumers have more confidence in the overall quality of a hospital if it has achieved the level of nursing standards established by the Magnet Recognition Program.

The ANCC is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association and is the largest and most prominent nursing credentialing organization in the United States. RIC's Magnet status, which includes annual reviews, is valid for four years.

About the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) is dedicated to helping people with all levels and types of physical disabilities regain or improve their physical functions and empowering them to participate more fully in family, social, vocational and leisure time pursuits. The Institute has been ranked the "Best Rehabilitation Hospital in America" by U.S. News & World Report, every year since 1991 and is a recipient of the Magnet award for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.ric.org.

Journalists contact: mediarelations@ric.org, 312-238-6044.
All others contact: webmaster@ric.org.