MOBILE — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently conferred a second gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence on a Mobile Infirmary nursing unit: the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Its Medical Intensive Care Unit was also awarded a gold-level Beacon Award earlier this month. Currently, Mobile Infirmary's Medical ICU and Surgical ICU are Alabama's only adult intensive care units to hold this designation.

The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN's six Healthy Work Environment Standards.

"We are proud to have the only two gold-level designations for adult units in the State," said Susan Boudreau, FACHE, president of Mobile Infirmary. "This recognition underscores our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care and exemplifies our pursuit of becoming the FIRST CHOICE for healthcare in the region."

The Mobile Infirmary critical care program diagnoses and treats all types of disorders and diseases in their most severe form. The Medical and Surgical ICUs are staffed with highly specialized critical care physician intensivists who provide round-the-clock care to our critically ill patients. The Beacon Award for Excellence was established in 2003 to provide a framework for delivering exceptional care, resulting in better outcomes and higher patient satisfaction. Nursing units in North America that provide care to patients after their hospital admission are eligible for this award.