Only Alabama hospital to receive Magnet status

UAB Hospital has again been distinguished as one of the best healthcare providers in the country.

UAB Hospital is the only hospital in Alabama and one of only 17 in the Southeast to achieve the coveted “Magnet” status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association. The Magnet Hospital for Nursing Excellence designation is nursing’s top honor, accepted nationally as the gold standard in nursing excellence. The Magnet Recognition Program^® includes a rigorous, multifaceted evaluation of nursing practices, leadership and nursing policies and programs that raise the quality of patient care.

Hospitals must reapply for the status every four years. UAB Hospital was the state’s first hospital to achieve the certification, in 2002. Less than 3 percent, or fewer than 200, of the nation’s 5,000 healthcare providers have received the designation.

In their recent book, You: The Smart Patient, An Insider’s Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment, authors Michael F. Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., two of America’s top-ranked physicians, say Magnet status is one of the primary criteria patients should consider when selecting a hospital.

The Nursing Magnet status affirms UAB Hospital’s dedication to excellence. If you would like more information about the Magnet Recognition Program^® , go to uabhealth.org/magnet2006.