Winter Haven Hospital Hosted 2013 Annual Magnet Conference

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – October 10, 2013 – Winter Haven Hospital was a Florida co-host hospital for the annual ANCC National Magnet Conference®. The annual conference was held at the Orange County Convention Center Oct. 2-4, 2013 and attracted nearly 8,000 nurses and nursing executives from top hospitals to celebrate Magnet recognition and share evidence-based practices.

Winter Haven Hospital has been a Magnet hospital since 2008. Magnet status is implicative of the “gold standard” for nursing distinction and is awarded by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) to hospitals that provide excellent patient outcomes as it relates to nursing strength and quality. Only about six percent of U.S. hospitals achieve Magnet designation from the ANCC.

Attendees of the National Magnet Conference learned about challenges posed by the evolving role of nursing in the current healthcare environment and strategies to evaluate best practices based in science and innovation.

The conference kicked-off with an Opening Session and Welcome from the leadership of the ANCC and the co-hosts. Winter Haven Hospital’s retiring CEO Lance Anastasio commented on his record of “44 brief years as president” and introduced new President Steve Nierman. Forty-two Winter Haven Hospital nurses attended the conference; and an additional 68 team members volunteered for support roles such as set-up assistants, greeters and guides, ushers, and workshop facilitators.

In addition, Winter Haven Hospital’s Noel Holdsworth, PHMNP-BC, gave a presentation on nurse satisfaction as it relates to the work environment. The presentation focused on identifying the role of compassion satisfaction in preventing burnout. Noel is a nurse practitioner with Winter Haven Hospital’s Center for Psychiatry. Winter Haven Hospital also presented a case study as part of the Poster Presentation educational activity at the conference. The presentation described the hospital’s approach to integrate an innovative depression screening to all acute-care patients.

As a cohost, Winter Haven Hospital had the honor to give an exclusive tour to 40 international registered nurses who had attended the conference. The tour included visits and discussions from leaders of Winter Haven Hospital’s critical care units, cardiovascular services, dialysis services, neonatal services, neurology and neurosurgery services, oncology, orthopedics and rehabilitation services. Tour attendees originated from Australia, Brazil, China, Finland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

Winter Haven Hospital was one of three cohosting Magnet hospitals in the Central Florida region. The 2014 conference will be held in Dallas, Texas.

About Winter Haven Hospital

Established in 1926, Winter Haven Hospital is a 527-bed facility accredited by the Joint Commission. The 527-bed hospital became the 11th not-for-profit hospital in the BayCare Health System on Aug. 30, 2013. More than 300 board-certified physicians comprise the medical staff, covering specialties such as stroke, open heart, obstetrics and gynecology, and emergency services. In addition, the hospital is recognized as a Magnet Nursing Center of Excellence, a prestigious designation held by less than five percent of hospitals nationwide. Winter Haven Hospital has more than 2,500 employees, making it east Polk County’s largest private employer, and has been recognized by Polk Works Workforce 2020 as one of the county’s best places to work. The hospital is located at 200 Avenue F NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881 and serves as the major medical center for east Polk County and the U.S. Highway 27/Ridge Corridor. For more information, please call (863) 293-1121 or visit www.winterhavenhospital.org.

About BayCare Health System

BayCare Health System is a leading community-based health system in the Tampa Bay area. Composed of a network of 11 not-for-profit hospitals, outpatient facilities and services such as imaging, lab, behavioral health and home health care, BayCare provides expert medical care throughout a patient's lifetime. With more than 200 access points conveniently located throughout Tampa Bay, BayCare connects patients to a complete range of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services for any health care need. BayCare's family of hospitals are: Mease Countryside, Mease Dunedin, Morton Plant, Morton Plant North Bay, St. Anthony's, St. Joseph's, St. Joseph's Children's, St. Joseph's Hospital- North, St. Joseph's Women's, South Florida Baptist and Winter Haven Hospital. For more information, visit BayCare on the Web at www.BayCare.org.

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