Awards & Honors

We have earned the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval indicating
Methodist Health System has met or exceeded the highest level of patient care
and safety.

In 2004, Methodist Hospital joined only 6% of the nation's hospitals to earn the
Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet status is considered the "gold standard" of nursing. Methodist Health System has a strong reputation for outstanding nursing care The award recognizes health care organizations exhibiting excellence in nursing services to patients, the existence of an environment that supports professional nursing practice and growth and development of nursing staff. Magnet institutions act as "magnets" by attracting and retaining outstanding nurses and creating a work environment that recognizes and rewards professional nursing. Watch the Video

As part of its drive for nursing excellence, Methodist Hospital encourages staff nurses to become certified in their specialties. Certification affirms specialty knowledge beyond basic preparation and is an expert credential reserved for those who meet rigorous practice, continuing education and testing requirements in their specialties. Almost 250 Methodist Hospital nurses have achieved certification. The nurses were recognized on Wednesday, April 14. Part of the event included a tribute video by the executive team of Methodist Hospital. Watch the video.

Methodist Hospital Foundation supports certification by reimbursing our nurses for certification fees.

The outstanding bariatric program at Methodist Hospital, led by Dr. Gary Anthone, MD has been designated a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Methodist Hospital has been designated a "Blue Distinction Center" for spine surgery and for knee and hip replacement surgery by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Methodist was named a Blue Distinction Center for cardiac care in 2007.

The new designations are part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association's expansion of its Blue Distinction program. Recognition is based on rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria.

Methodist Hospital's Acute Care Elderly Unit has been designated as a NICHE site. This voluntary accreditation imparts the vision of NICHE: for all patients 65 and over to be given sensitive and exemplary care. The staff of the ACE Unit is committed to achieving patient-centered care for older adults.

Methodist Hospital ACE Unit will be in the limelight as it is featured in an upcoming American Nursing Journal online video. Watch Now

Designates that a hospital has agreed to voluntarily submit performance measures for publication on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Web site. To date, 4,014 hospitals have volunteered to participate.

The ACS NSQIP is a nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based program to measure and improve the quality of surgical care. Hospitals participating in this program are involved in the following key components relating to improving the quality of surgical care.

Our Echocardiography Lab provides echocardiogram services. These ultrasound procedures provide a picture of how the heart performs at rest and with exercise. The lab also provides a transesophageal echocardiogram.

Patients can rely on accreditation as an indication that the facility where their examination will be performed has proven a commitment to providing quality testing for the diagnosis of heart disorders and disease. Patients can rest assured that accredited facilities have been carefully critiqued on all aspects of their operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of echocardiography.

Our Vascular Laboratory has participated in this voluntary accreditation process. Patients can rely on accreditation as an indication that the facility where their examination will be performed has proven a commitment to providing quality testing for the diagnosis of vascular disease. Patients can rest assured that accredited facilities have been carefully critiqued on all aspects of their operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of vascular technology.

Since the "Aortic Dissection at Any Age: Tyler Kahle Story" debuted in August 2007, it has been viewed online more than 12,800 times by people in 53 countries and all 50 U.S. states, an average of 14 viewings each day. Since the capability to download the video online was added in mid-2009, the video has been downloaded an average of 52 times a month. Read more

In this sleep center, accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep technologists work under the supervision of physicians who specialize in sleep disorder medicine and in consultation with specialists in the areas of neurology, pulmonology, cardiology, psychiatry and otolaryngology (treatment of ear, nose and throat disorders).

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center (MECC) Breast Care Center has been granted a three-year, full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. MECC is the only accredited breast care center in Nebraska, as well as any of the bordering states. The nearest accredited breast centers are located in St. Louis and Minneapolis. Accreditation by the NAPBC is only granted to breast centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.

Thomas L. Williams, M.D., medical director of The Pathology Center at Methodist Hospital, was selected to receive the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes and honors the unsung heroes of the College of American Pathologists who have made a broad and positive impact on the pathology profession.

Lauren Kincaid, MS, CCC/SLP, a speech/language pathologist at Methodist Hospital Physical Therapy, received the 2009 Recognition of Service Award from the Nebraska Speech Language Hearing Association (NSLHA). The Recognition of Service Award is given to an individual in recognition of exemplary commitment and contribution to the field, with an emphasis on specific contributions within the last six years.