Published on: 6/13/2012

Miami- The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Miami Children’s Hospital has received a gold Beacon award for excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). For patients and families, the Beacon award signifies exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall satisfaction. 

The gold award is the highest recognition level which demonstrates excellence in unit performance and patient outcomes. The AACN created the Beacon awards to recognize hospital nursing units that improve every facet of patient care. For the critical-care nurses, a Beacon award signifies a positive and supportive work environment as well as great collaboration between colleagues and leaders.

The PICU at Miami Children’s is the most experienced pediatric and neonatal Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) resource for children with life-threatening heart and lung conditions in the State of Florida.  It is one of three pediatric apheresis blood treatment centers in the State for children who require plasma exchange, red cell exchange, prosorba column, leukopheresis or stem-cell harvesting.

“This recognition demonstrates the commitment of our outstanding staff in advancing care excellence and optimal outcomes,” said Jackie Gonzalez, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Miami Children’s Hospital.  “We are delighted to be recognized for this tremendous achievement as it speaks to our dedication to the families in our care,” she said.

About Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Where Your Child Matters Most ™ (2025)

For 75 years, Nicklaus Children's has stood as a beacon of hope for children and families across the state of Florida and beyond. Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's #1 nonprofit, freestanding specialty licensed hospital exclusively for children serving close to 70 percent of children in the Miami metropolitan community. In addition, Nicklaus Children's offers care within NCH North Hospital in Naples, Jupiter Medical Center's De George Pediatric Unit and select Baptist Health Hospital pediatric emergency units. The hospital and its network of more of nearly 35 outpatient care locations offer lifesaving care in in Miami-Dade, Broward, Martin, and Palm Beach counties. These outpatient locations include an array of urgent care, pediatric primary care, and subspecialty care centers and are either hospital-based or outpatient locations under Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists, LLC (NCPS). Providing a pipeline of future physicians and groundbreaking research, Nicklaus Children's is an academic and clinical affiliate of Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Nicklaus Children's is home to centers of excellence including the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, the Nicklaus Children's Orthopedic, Sports Medicine and Spine Institute, Nicklaus Children's Neuroscience Institute and Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute. The 325-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, with many programs routinely ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. Nicklaus Children's also includes a nonprofit physician practice subsidiary with over 40 specialties, and an ambulatory surgery center.