UCF Lake Nona Hospital’s emergency department has been selected as a recipient of the Emergency Nurses Association’s 2024 Lantern Award for demonstrating excellence in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research performance.

The Lantern Award recognizes the emergency department’s accomplishments in incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation into emergency care. The award serves as a visible symbol of the hospital’s commitment to quality, safety and a healthy work environment.

“As Lake Nona’s only full-service hospital open to everyone, we are humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Wendy Brandon, chief executive officer of UCF Lake Nona Hospital, part of HCA Florida Healthcare. “This is a testimony to the strength of our exceptional team of caregivers and the groundbreaking work taking place with the integration of technology into patient care – it’s what makes the work being done here stand out.”

UCF Lake Nona Hospital has been serving the community since 2021 and after opening, was quickly selected as the first Innovation Hub in the 186-hospital HCA Healthcare enterprise. The hospital is creating healthcare solutions in Central Florida that will improve the delivery of healthcare both nationally and internationally.

“We are redesigning the way care is delivered,” Brandon added, “Letting clinicians focus on patient care, and using technology where it can best support our team. Our colleagues are becoming part of a solution legacy.”

UCF Lake Nona Hospital emergency physicians are documenting medical information faster than ever, using the latest medical technology to deliver automated clinical documentation. The real value-added benefit for the UCF Lake Nona Hospital emergency department nursing teams’ experience is the ability to access the most current information from the provider for chart review with limited delay related to medical notes. UCF Lake Nona Hospital is the first in any health system to use this type of technology.

These advancements reduce burden of documentation for physicians and allow for increased time for patient care by using artificial intelligence to create quick and comprehensive medical notes after each patient interaction. Notes are received and uploaded to the electronic health record quickly. This innovative technology facilitates more coordinated care and further supports the symbiotic partnership of nurse and physician.

In its first year, the UCF Lake Nona Hospital emergency department was also recognized as an HCA Healthcare Unit of Distinction for extraordinary patient care, finishing third out of the extensive 186-hospital HCA Healthcare network for patient experience.

UCF Lake Nona Hospital’s Lantern Award will be on display in the emergency department. As a recipient, UCF Lake Nona Hospital will be recognized in upcoming Emergency Nurses Association publications, on the Emergency Nurses Association website and during Emergency Nursing 2024, the association’s annual conference in Las Vegas September 4-7.

For more information For more information about UCF Lake Nona Hospital, visit this link.

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About UCF Lake Nona Hospital
Located in the heart of Orlando’s Medical City, UCF Lake Nona Hospital is a 64-bed, full-service medical and surgical acute care hospital serving Lake Nona and surrounding communities in Orange and Osceola counties. UCF Lake Nona Hospital offers 24/7 emergency care, boutique family birthing units, inpatient and outpatient surgery including minimally invasive and robotic technology, oncology, diagnostic imaging, weight loss surgery, laboratory services and a cardiac catheterization lab. The hospital employs the latest innovative solutions and life-saving technology, including non-invasive focused ultrasound incisionless brain surgery forthe treatment of debilitating tremors and Parkinson’s disease. UCF Lake Nona Hospital is a partnership between the University of Central Florida and HCA Healthcare.

About HCA Florida Healthcare 

HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. United as a statewide network in 2022, HCA Florida Healthcare includes approximately 11,100 experienced doctors and more than 84,000 colleagues working together to deliver equitable, evidence-based collaborative care through more than 11.6 million patient encounters each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provides more than $903 million in uncompensated care and contributes nearly $2.2 million to community organizations across the state. In addition, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to highly-trained specialists, including the state’s largest cardiovascular network. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is also a major supporter of university-based healthcare programs and residencies and fellowships throughout the Sunshine State. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.  

About the Emergency Nurses Association 

The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With nearly 50,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness and all aspects of emergency care.