Maine Medical in top 2% of U.S. hospitals for nursing excellence

Maine Medical Center in Portland was designated Thursday a magnet hospital, the highest national recognition awarded for nursing excellence. It’s the third consecutive time that MMC has achieved the designation, an honor that about 2% of U.S. hospitals can claim.

MMC was first recognized as a magnet hospital in 2006, was re-designated in 2011 and continued to sustain this high level of quality since.

Magnet status is awarded by the by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, an independent organization within the American Nurses Association. The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes health care organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Magnet recognition is widely considered to be the ultimate credential for high quality nursing care.

“Every member of our nursing staff takes great pride in our magnet designation because it is objective proof that we deliver personal, patient-centered care to everyone we serve,” said Marge Wiggins, MMC’s chief nursing officer and chief nurse executive at MaineHealth.

Out of more than 6,000 hospitals in the United States, only 441 organizations have achieved the Magnet designation. This is approximately 7% of U.S. hospitals. Only about 2% (roughly 120 hospitals) of U.S. hospitals earn that recognition three times.