Magnet hospitals have lower death rates

According to research done by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and published in the May issue of Medical Care, magnet hospitals have both lower patient mortality rates and better patient outcomes, due in part to more investments in nursing at these organizations.

[See also: Magnet-recognized hospitals may have better outcomes for low birth rate babies]

The researchers compared patient outcomes at 56 magnet hospitals versus 508 non-magnet hospitals in California, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 2006-07, according to a press release. The goal was to see if magnet hospitals achieved better patient outcomes and to identify characteristics of magnet hospitals that led to improved outcomes.

Magnet recognition is based on quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. It is a voluntary recognition/certification program administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), an arm of the American Nurses Association.

The research results showed that key patient outcomes were better at magnet hospitals. Surgical mortality was 20 percent lower at magnet hospitals upon an analysis of more than 600,000 surgical patients, after accounting for clinical factors. Mortality among patients experiencing complications was 12 percent lower, and surgical patients in magnet hospitals were 14 percent less likely to face mortality in the hospital within 30 days.

The researchers largely attributed the positive findings to nursing. According to the researchers, it was found that magnet hospitals have higher proportions of nurses with bachelor's degrees and specialty training and certification than other hospitals, and had higher nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.

"Our findings reinforce that better work environments for nurses are the distinguishing factor between magnet and non-magnet hospitals and are key to better patient outcomes," said the report. The researchers did note that the mortality advantage of magnet hospitals also could be related to their membership in a network of institutions where innovation is encouraged through the ongoing process of magnet redesignation. 

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“Magnet recognition likely stimulates positive organizational behavior that improves patient outcomes,” said lead study author Matthew D. McHugh, PhD, of University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, in a press release.

“This is the first study to suggest that the magnet application process itself is an intervention that promotes better quality of care,” he added.

[See also: Nurse understaffing impacts quality of care, leads to increased infections]