CentraState Medical Center’s emergency department has been selected as a recipient of the Emergency Nurses Association’s (ENA) 2023 Lantern Award for demonstrating exceptional and innovative leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research performance. CentraState is one of only six emergency departments in New Jersey that have earned a coveted ENA Lantern Award, which features 53 award recipients nationally. CentraState is a partner of Atlantic Health System, which also boasts Morristown Medical Center and Overlook Medical Center, Union Campus among Lantern Award honorees this year.

The Lantern Award showcases CentraState emergency department’s accomplishments in incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation into emergency care. As part of the application, EDs are encouraged to share stories that highlight a commitment to care of patients, as well as the well-being of nursing staff. The award serves as a visible symbol of our commitment to quality, safety and a healthy work environment.

“The prestigious Lantern Award is a testament to the exceptional patient care that our community trusts our team of dedicated physicians, nurses, and staff at CentraState will deliver every day. We are proud and grateful to receive this recognition for a momentous first time,” said Cathleen Janzekovich, Chief Nursing Officer and VP, Patient Care Services.

CentraState Medical Center’s emergency department saw more than 48,000 patients during the last year. Among the many exemplars highlighted in CentraState’s application one in particular is as follows: CentraState’s emergency department nurses were instrumental in assisting to develop the unmet need for advanced cardiac services, including a high-tech cardiac catheterization lab and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care to help save lives and meet standards of care.

CentraState’s Lantern Award will be on display in the emergency department. As an award recipient, CentraState will be recognized in upcoming ENA publications, on the ENA website and during Emergency Nursing 2023, the association’s annual conference in San Diego Sept. 21-23.

The Lantern Award is named in honor of Florence Nightingale, a trailblazing nurse and founder of modern nursing, who is known by the nickname the “Lady with the Lamp.” The award period is three years. For more information on this year’s Lantern Award recipients, visit the Emergency Nurses Association website.

About CentraState

CentraState Healthcare System, a partner of Atlantic Health System, is a fully accredited, not-for-profit, community-based health system that provides comprehensive health services in the central New Jersey region. In addition to offering a full range of leading-edge diagnostic and treatment options, CentraState serves as a valuable health partner focused on the latest ways to prevent disease, promote healthy behaviors, and help people of all ages live life well. Based in Freehold, CentraState is comprised of a 284-bed acute-care hospital, a vibrant health and wellness campus, three award-winning senior living communities, a charitable foundation, and four convenient satellite health pavilions. The system also offers a family medicine residency and geriatric fellowship training program in affiliation with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Among its many honors and accreditations, CentraState is one of less than two percent of hospitals nationwide to earn Magnet® designation for nursing excellence four times. To learn more, visit centrastate.com.