MedStar Health Awarded Elite Magnet® Recognition with Distinction™, a First for the System

MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital achieves Magnet status with the world’s highest honor for nursing excellence from American Nursing Credentialing Center.

BALTIMORE - MedStar Health has reached a new milestone in nursing excellence, as MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital became one of only 79 hospitals in the world to earn the coveted Magnet® Recognition with Distinction™. This is the highest level of recognition awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program^®.

Magnet Recognition with Distinction™ is an elite designation recognizing the highest-performing Magnet organizations worldwide. Based on validated empirical data, only about 1% of Magnet-achieving hospitals attain this level of performance. These organizations serve as exemplary role models for nursing excellence and for creating environments of care that improve patient outcomes.

With the achievement announced Tuesday, MedStar Health now has one of the highest concentrations of Magnet-recognized hospitals in the region, totaling eight. MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital is the first within the system to earn the Distinction designation. For patients, this means care is delivered by nurses recognized among the best in the world, driving safe, high-quality care, better clinical outcomes, and an exceptional patient experience.

During the ANCC Commission review, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital was recognized with 11 exemplars, highlighting areas of exceptional performance and outcomes that surpass national benchmarks.

“Achieving Magnet recognition is a powerful affirmation of what we see every day,” said Karen S. Owings, MSN, RN, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital and MedStar Union Memorial. “Our nurses lead with excellence, compassion, and unwavering dedication to our patients and to one another. They are the driving force behind safe, high-quality care and better outcomes, constantly raising the bar for what healthcare can and should be. This recognition belongs to them. I am deeply proud and equally grateful to our physician and ancillary partners who stand beside nursing in delivering truly exceptional care.”

The Magnet designation process is widely regarded as the gold standard for nursing excellence and involves a rigorous, multi-year evaluation. MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital submitted comprehensive documentation in August and hosted an extensive site visit in January, during which nurses and interdisciplinary teams demonstrated their commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care.

“This elite designation recognizes hospitals that are not only achieving excellence, but setting the standard for the future of care,” said Abby Brzezenski, MSN, RN, Magnet program coordinator. “It reinforces MedStar Health’s commitment to delivering the highest quality care to the communities we serve.”

“This great honor is a testament to the dedication, teamwork, and innovation of our entire nursing community,” said T.J. Senker, president of MedStar Good Samaritan and MedStar Union Memorial Hospitals, and senior vice president for MedStar Health. “I’m so proud of the environment created here, where nurses thrive, and patients benefit every day.”

Magnet Recognition with Distinction organizations will be celebrated at the ANCC National Magnet Conference in October.