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The nursing program at Forsyth Medical Center has received national recognition for its' nursing care by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nursing Program that promotes excellence and quality in nursing care. The certification recognizes quality of care, excellent working conditions, and ability to recruit and retain nurses in a highly competitive field. Forsyth Medical Center is one of 96 hospitals 1.6% of all hospitals in the country that have received this certification.

The purpose of this certification, called the Magnet Recognition Program, is to recognize healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and uphold the tradition within nursing of professional nursing practice. Hospitals applying for Magnet status must meet a strict set of standards for patient care, and participate in a lengthy review process consisting of written applications as well as site visits from inspectors.

"This certification places our medical center among the best in the country for nursing care and helps us recruit the most qualified nursing staff in the nation," said Kathie Johnson, vice president of nursing at Forsyth Medical Center. "It demonstrates the quality of our nursing staff and their commitment to the highest level of care they provide to our patients everyday."

Magnet status helps to raise awareness of the quality of nursing care among hospital staff, the public and patients. According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Magnet-designated health care organizations consistently outperform other hospitals in recruiting and retaining nursing staff. A 1999 survey also found that 93 percent of the public would have more confidence in the overall quality of a hospital if it had achieved Magnet status.

"Forsyth Medical Center consistently maintains a nursing vacancy rate around four percent, well below the national average of eleven percent," said Johnson. "We know that this Magnet designation will help Forsyth to retain the excellent nursing staff we already have, and to continue to recruit the best nurses in the field as our programs continue to grow."

Forsyth Medical Center has about 1,850 employees on its nursing staff. They care for patients of all ages, from premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, to the elderly in need of home health or palliative care. Nurses work in virtually every specialty throughout the medical center, including obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, oncology, critical care transport, cardiology, orthopedics, emergency, and rehabilitation.

"This certification has implications for every resident of Forsyth County," Johnson explained. "The national nursing shortage is a well-publicized challenge for all of us. But the shortage is much less severe here at Forsyth Medical Center and in this region because nurses are attracted to the quality of life in Winston-Salem and to the quality of our nursing programs."

Forsyth Medical Center is one of seven hospitals that are part of Novant Health, a not-for-profit healthcare system based in North Carolina. In addition to Forsyth Medical Center, other hospital affiliates include Medical Park Hospital in Winston-Salem and Thomasville Medical Center in Thomasville; also Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews in the Charlotte area. Other facilities and programs of Novant Health include three philanthropic foundations, two nursing home and senior residential facilities, physician clinics, outpatient surgery and diagnostic centers, rehabilitation programs and community health outreach programs.

Novant Health has been nationally recognized as the Best in Industry for Working Mothers by Working Mother Magazine and one of the Top 40 Family-Friendly NC Companies by Charlotte Parent and Piedmont Parent magazines. Additionally, Novant Health has been named to the 2002 SMG Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks in the country.