For Immediate Release
November 26, 2007
Contact: Robert Cavanaugh
732-840-3279
rcavanaugh@meridianhealth.com

OCEAN MEDICAL CENTER EARNS THE HIGHEST NURSING AWARD

Ocean Medical Center recertified as a Magnet Hospital for nursing excellence

Brick, NJ - Ocean Medical Center has received recertification once again as a Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing practice and patient care by the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC). In 1998, Ocean Medical Center became the 12th hospital in the nation to receive this prestigious award.

According to the ANCC, recognizing quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice, the Magnet Recognition Program began 13 years ago to provide the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care to patients. The program is based on quality indicators and standards of nursing practice.

“The Magnet Award is the highest level of recognition for hospital nursing awarded by the ANCC,” said Peter Daniels, President of Ocean Medical Center. “This award is a tremendous honor and speaks to the incredible care that our nurses provide to our patients.”

Magnet status is important because it acknowledges hospitals that act as a“magnet” for excellence by creating a work environment that recognizes, rewards, and promotes professional nursing.

“Receiving the Magnet Award, and being a part of a health system that values nursing and its contributions, has had a significant impact on our ability to recruit and retain nursing staff,” said Regina Foley, Chief Nurse Executive at Ocean Medical Center. “Our nurses recognize that the Magnet Award is the highest achievement that a nursing service can attain, and that it signifies nursing excellence and the highest quality of nursing care.”

In 1998, Meridian Health was the first health care system in the nation to achieve Magnet nursing status at each of its member hospitals: Ocean Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, and Riverview Medical Center. Meridian is proud to say that to date, it has continually attained 100 percent Magnet status at all three medical centers.

Ocean Medical Center, a member of the Meridian Health family, is a 281-bed non-profit community hospital located in Brick New Jersey, providing health care programs and services in all major medical disciplines, including maternity; oncology; orthopedics and rehabilitation; general, neurological, thoracic, and vascular surgery; cardiology; dialysis; and emergency and critical care services. The Medical Center features Magnet award winning nurses and is a proud affiliate of University of Pennsylvania Cancer Network. Ocean Medical Center also operates the state’s first Satellite Emergency Department in Point Pleasant, called the Ocean Care Center. For more information, call the Meridian Health Line at 1-800-560-9990 or log on to our web site at www.OceanMedicalCenter.com.

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