Gundersen Emergency Services department earns 2023 Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award
Gundersen Health System’s Emergency Department has been selected as a recipient of the Emergency Nurses Association’s 2023 Lantern Award for demonstrating exception and innovation in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research performance.
The Lantern Award showcases the emergency department’s accomplishments in incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation into emergency care. As part of the application, EDs are encouraged to share stories that highlight a commitment to care of patients, as well as the well-being of nursing staff. The award serves as a visible symbol of our commitment to quality, safety and a healthy work environment.
Gundersen’s 45-bed Emergency Services department provides care to more than 65,000 patients annually. Department highlights include 90th percentile patient experience scores; a keen focus on department throughput metrics, with the addition of a provider in triage and a flow coordinator; a dedicated ED community health worker; and a Complex Care Committee for ED high utilizers that prevents multiple visits to the emergency room and improved resources for the community.
“The dedication to excellence by the entire health care team is exemplified by achieving and sustaining these improvements, despite facing unprecedented challenges brought on by the global pandemic,” said Kara Bayer, MBA, BSN, RN, clinical manager.
The 70-plus page Lantern application was submitted by the emergency services team, which included multiple disciplines writing exemplars of the top-notch work the team provides every day.
Gundersen’s Lantern Award will be on display in the emergency department. As a recipient, Gundersen Health System will be recognized in upcoming ENA publications, on the ENA website and during Emergency Nursing 2023, the association’s annual conference in San Diego.
For more information on this year’s Lantern Award recipients, visit the Emergency Nurses Association website.