CINCINNATI (January 12, 2026) – All three intensive care units at The Christ Hospital Health Network have been recognized by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Beacon Award for Excellence. The national award, which began in 2003, honors units that deliver exceptional patient care while fostering supportive and collaborative work environments.
Both the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) and the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) received silver recognition, and the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) was honored with the bronze level award. Earning these awards requires closely monitored evaluation across several key areas including:
•Leadership Structures and Systems – Strong governance and decision-making frameworks
•Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement – Safe staffing ratios and active team involvement
•Effective Communication, Knowledge Management, and Learning Development – Ongoing learning and information sharing
•Evidence-Based Practice and Processes – Clinical care grounded in research
•Outcome Measurements – Demonstrated improvements in patient outcomes
“This recognition reflects the extraordinary skill, compassion and dedication of our ICU nurses, physicians and multidisciplinary care teams,” said Debbie Hayes, President & CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network. “The honor highlights the strong, positive work environment our teams have created where teamwork, professional growth and a shared commitment to excellence guide everything we do to create exceptional outcomes.”
Since the program began, only 305 ICUs nationwide have achieved this standard placing The Christ Hospital Health Network in elite company.
“Awards like this remind us of our talented team members that provide the highest quality of care to everyone in all of our intensive care units,” said Julie Holt, Chief Nursing Officer of The Christ Hospital Health Network. “Our patients, along with their families, know first-hand that they will receive the finest experiences. Our commitment to creating a healthier community is shown through the hard work we see every day by the teams of the CVICU, SICU and MICU.”
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For 137 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up of more than 1,300 physicians and 7,200 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region and named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2025.