NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Recognized for Excellence in Emergency Nursing
Metropolitan is only one of three hospitals in the health system’s history to earn the Emergency Nurses Association’s Lantern Award
Aug 01, 2024
Manhattan, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan’s Emergency Department has been selected as a recipient of the Emergency Nurses Association’s 2024 Lantern Award for demonstrating excellence 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. The cornerstone of the team’s approach was fostering a culture of collaboration and open communication between nurses and physicians. The Emergency Department initiated huddles twice daily, led by the Charge Nurse, with all ED team members participating. These huddles identified bottlenecks with throughput, pending discharges, admissions, and pending patients awaiting disposition. Enhancing patient communication and engagement was also crucial. The team implemented systems to keep patients informed, in real time, about their estimated wait times, treatment plans, and expected outcomes.
“As part of the largest Public Health system in the Country, NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan’s Emergency Department provides care for the most vulnerable New Yorkers,” said Cristina Contreras, LMSW, MPA, FABC, Chief Executive Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. “We are extremely proud to receive The Lantern Award, which is a result of tremendous hard work and dedication by our emergency department caregivers to serve the medical needs of our community. Our teams provide high-quality emergency care to our community and I am thrilled that they’re being recognized. What truly sets us apart is the way in which we balance expert clinical care with genuine compassion for both our patients and staff members and this award is a testament to the teamwork, passion and dedication of our staff to each other and their patients.”
“It gives me immense pleasure to congratulate the nurses in our NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Emergency Department for receiving the renowned ENA Lantern Award from the Emergency Nurses Association,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive Natalia Cineas, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “This award recognizes that our Metropolitan nurses have had an amazing and sustained impact upon the broader New York City healthcare landscape; our emergency department nurses also serve as a receiving center for victims of sexual assault, taking a team approach to providing compassionate, victim-sensitive care. Their energy and enthusiasm truly make a difference, bringing outreach programs, educational efforts and health screenings to the people that need it the most. Our Metropolitan nurses have embraced leadership positions in the East Harlem community, spearheading advocacy campaigns for health education, preventative care, social justice reforms and other critical issues facing the nursing profession. The Metropolitan Emergency Department is one of just 94 emergency departments worldwide to receive this prestigious designation in 2024, and one of three hospitals in the health system’s history. All three of these emergency departments earned the ENA Lantern Award by incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation in emergency care, demonstrating exceptional performance in serving their patients, families and communities.”
“Operating an efficient Emergency Department requires skilled nurses, constant communication, and a passion to provide the highest quality care for our community in their time of need,” said Christopher Wilson, MSN, RN, CNML, CENP, NEA-BC, FACHE, Chief Nursing Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. “We are proud of the strong and collaborative nursing culture we have built at Metropolitan, and we are especially pleased to be honored by the ENA for our work in emergency medicine. This recognition speaks to our relentless dedication to excellence and fuels our passion to continue raising the bar in healthcare delivery.”
“Our team is committed to providing the highest level of care to patients during the most critical moments,” said Samantha Jenkins, RN, MBA/HCM, CEN, Director of Nursing, Emergency Department, NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. “We are very proud to be recognized by the Emergency Nurses Association. This was a team effort, and this award serves as a testament to the transformative power of teamwork and shared purpose in overcoming complex challenges. Our nurses and physicians stand united in our mission to provide compassionate, timely, and high-quality care to every patient who walks through our doors.”
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan’s Emergency Department provides care for over 57,000 patients annually. The Lantern Award will be on display in the emergency department and will serve as a visible symbol of its commitment to quality, safety and a healthy work environment. Looking ahead, NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan will continue to cultivate a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence in the ED.
As a Lantern Award recipient, NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan will be recognized in upcoming ENA publications, on the ENA website, and during Emergency Nursing 2024, the association’s annual conference in Las Vegas, Sept. 4-7. For more information on this year’s Lantern Award recipients, visit the Emergency Nurses Association website.
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Contact: Natasha Burke, 212-423-8443/929-837-9166, burken@nychhc.org
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is the community hospital of choice for residents of East Harlem, northern Manhattan and neighboring communities. The hospital provides culturally-sensitive care in a welcoming and hospitable setting, emphasizing primary care medicine and utilizing the latest advances in medical science. It is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country. For more information, please visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/metropolitan and follow us on facebook.com/MetropolitanHosp
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About the Emergency Nurses Association
The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With nearly 50,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.