Piedmont Henry intensive care unit recognized by American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

Stockbridge, Ga. (January 27, 2026) - The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), recently conferred a bronze-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the intensive care unit at Piedmont Henry Hospital.

The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments — recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award with a gold, silver or bronze designation meet national criteria consistent with the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

“This is a first for Piedmont Henry. We are extremely proud of our critical care nurses and leaders and their pursuit of this award,” said Piedmont Henry Chief Nursing Officer Paula Butts. “This award validates the competency and outstanding care our nurses provide. Our team makes a positive difference in the lives of their patients and visitors each day.”

The bronze-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned signifies an effective approach to policies, procedures and processes that include engagement of staff and key stakeholders. The unit has evaluation and improvement strategies in place and strong performance measures relative to relevant benchmarks. Piedmont Henry’s intensive care unit earned its bronze award by meeting the following evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria:

• Leadership Structures and Systems
• Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement
• Effective Communication, Knowledge Management and Learning and Development
• Evidence-Based Practice and Processes
• Outcome Measurement

Established in 2003, the Beacon Award for Excellence provides a roadmap to deliver exceptional care, improve outcomes and increase overall patient satisfaction. U.S. and Canadian units where patients receive their primary nursing care after hospital admission are eligible for this excellence award. Units that receive the Beacon Award for Excellence meet criteria in six categories: leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management, and learning and development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurement. To learn more, visit aacn.org/beacon or visit piedmont.org.