Sentara Albemarle Medical Center receives Magnet with Distinction recognition

A joyful noise erupted in the boardroom at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center (SAMC) when the nursing team received ‘The Call’ from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

After two years of preparation, more than 500 pages of documentation, and a grueling site visit, ANCC granted SAMC its first four-year Magnet with Distinction® recognition, plus 14 ‘Exemplars’ for exceptional care.

ANCC’s website describes Magnet as “the most prestigious distinction a health care organization can receive for nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes. It is … steadfast proof of a hard-earned commitment to excellence … with nurses at its heart.”

“Magnet is not just mark of distinction for our nursing staff. It reflects our commitment, as a hospital, to the highest quality of care for our patients and community,” said Melissa Grootendorst, R.N., chief nursing officer for Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.

“This designation reflects the dedication from our nurses, physicians, support staff, and leadership. It started in our old building and continues in our beautiful new space.

Recognition follows opening of new $278 million hospital

SAMC began its Magnet journey at the 65-year-old hospital on North Road Street, which closed in August with the opening of a new 90-bed hospital on a $278 million regional health campus on Halstead Boulevard.

The same principles and protocols that led to a successful Magnet campaign are now being applied in a state-of-the-art facility designed to make it easier for nurses to do their jobs.

“It’s all your work, I just captured it,” Megan Russell, R.N., magnet manager for Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, told her leadership team at the celebration. “I couldn’t have worked with a better team.”

Of 158 hospitals in North Carolina, SAMC is the 12th with Magnet recognition. Others include UNC, ECU, Duke, WakeMed and Novant. Only 10% of more than 6,000 U.S. hospitals hold Magnet recognition. Sentara Health, SAMC’s Virginia-based parent, now has 11 Magnet sites across its 12 hospitals, including three with distinction.

‘Exemplars’ indicate areas where Magnet hospitals perform above the ANCC’s clinical benchmarks. SAMC’s 14 exemplars include falls with injuries, pressure ulcers, bloodstream infections associated with central lines and catheters, and surgical errors. All these exemplars translate into fewer complications and better patient outcomes.

“Magnet with Distinction means a lot to our community,” added Grootendorst. “Our nurses are happier, our patients are safer, and our outcomes are better.”

Magnet also helps with nursing recruitment. Being a Magnet site tells potential nurses that a hospital places a high value on its nursing staff and is committed to quality care.

A Magnet designation is the latest distinction for Sentara Albemarle Medical Center’s third facility in more than 100 years of serving northeast North Carolina.

“This is historic, ya’ll,” said SAMC President Teresa Watson.