Bridgeport Hospital has received Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), joining about 10 percent of hospitals in the United States with this recognition. The award is considered the highest honor for nursing excellence and is given to hospitals that demonstrate quality patient care, nursing leadership, a culture of safety, and best practices in nursing.
Magnet status is a factor in how health care organizations are evaluated by the public and is included in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings for “America’s Best Hospitals.” To receive Magnet designation, hospitals must complete a rigorous process involving an electronic application, documentation of patient care, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition. The designation lasts four years.
“This honor recognizes the exceptional collaboration, resilience and clinical excellence of our nurses and care teams and the outstanding outcomes they deliver for our patients every day,” said Mary Christoffersen, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer for Bridgeport Hospital. “It places Bridgeport Hospital among an elite group of hospitals nationwide that consistently deliver the highest standards of nursing excellence.”
“Earning Magnet designation is a powerful reflection of the excellence that defines Bridgeport Hospital,” said Anne Diamond, DBA, JD, president of Bridgeport Hospital. “While this achievement represents the strength of our entire organization, it’s our nurses whose leadership, innovation and commitment to evidence-based care made this Magnet journey possible.”
The ANCC evaluates organizations based on several components related to nursing practice and outcomes using its Magnet Model framework. Achieving initial recognition requires participation from both hospital leadership and staff.
“This is a significant milestone for our entire health system,” said Ena Williams, PhD, RN, chief nurse executive for Yale New Haven Health. “It reflects a culture of excellence that extends across Yale New Haven Health, strengthening how we recruit and retain top talent, elevate patient care and advance quality and safety for the communities we serve.”
Bridgeport Hospital operates as part of Yale New Haven Health. It has 501 beds across two campuses—Bridgeport and Milford—and 42 additional beds licensed to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. Each year it admits more than 23,000 patients and provides nearly 350,000 outpatient treatments. The Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital is currently the only burn center in Connecticut.
Yale New Haven Hospital and Greenwich Hospital have previously received Magnet designation as well.
