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By Joan Kleine, TU Berlin & Prof. Linda Aiken, University of Pennsilvania A Magnet4Europe celebration of accomplishments Conference took place from April 24 to April 25 at KU-Leuven in Belgium. This significant event brought together over 280 attendees from across Europe and the United States, with an additional 100 participants joining online. The gathering was a vibrant mix of representatives from the participating hospitals and key stakeholders of the Magnet4Europe study, such as WHO Europe, OECD, European Observatory, ANCC, and Tipton Health, underscoring the international impact and collaborative spirit of the initiative. The conference kicked off with a powerful opening session featuring key figures including the Director of Magnet4Europe, Prof. Walter Sermeus of KU Leuven; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health of Belgium, Frank Vandenbroucke; Dr. Sabine Stordeur from the DG Ministry of Public Health; and Prof. Paul Herijgers, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at KU Leuven. They highlighted the project's achievements and its importance for healthcare practices. Dr. Tomas Zapata from WHO Europe delivered a compelling keynote on the urgency of addressing human resources challenges in health, setting the tone for a conference focused on sustainable progress and excellence in healthcare. Throughout the two-day event, the agenda was packed with insightful presentations and panels that showcased the strides made in healthcare workforce improvement in the participating Magnet4Europe hospitals. Notable sessions included discussions on sustaining forward progress, where leaders like Helene Maucher and Sebastian Dienst from Germany discussed the ongoing journey towards Magnet Recognition, illustrating the successful collaboration with international partners in the USA. And a panel of physician and nurse leaders from 4Magnet4Europe hospitals—University Hospital Münster in partnership with Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and University Hospital Leuven in partnership with the Massachusetts General Hospital-- gave compelling testimony on the value-added of the Magnet Model to patient care and hospital financial wellbeing. A significant highlight was the presentation on the impact of Magnet4Europe on mental health and wellbeing. Co-Director of Magnet4Europe, Prof. Linda Aiken, and Dr. Karen Lasater from the University of Pennsylvania shared research findings from the Magnet4Europe physician and nurse surveys and the Gap Analyses. The Magnet4Europe intervention was shown to be successfully implemented in all six countries resulting in improvements in work environments and significant improvements in clinician wellbeing, patient safety, and quality of care. With continued engagement, the study forecasts a substantial reduction in nurses experiencing high burnout, a decrease in the intention to leave among healthcare professionals, and a reduction in job dissatisfaction. The Magnet4Europe project's process evaluation, presented by Dr. Lisa Smeds Alenius (Karolinska Institutet, Sweden), Dr. Jaimie Ellis (University of Southampton, UK), and Joan Kleine (Technical University of Berlin, Germany), focused on understanding the implementation, adaptation, and reach of the Magnet4Europe intervention across various European case hospitals. This mixed-methods evaluation combined quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to delve deeper into the experiences of implementation teams, including nurses and physicians. Key findings from the process evaluation highlighted both the successes and challenges faced during the implementation stages. The initial orientation phase was crucial, where hospital management's intentions played a significant role in motivating staff to engage with the Magnet philosophy. This phase was about building a foundational understanding and setting the stage for action. Magnet4Europe is one of the first ever implementation studies to show that hospital work environments can be improved, and that improved work environments result in significant improvement in clinician wellbeing and patient safety culture. Panel discussions throughout the conference facilitated deep dives into various aspects of healthcare improvement, from policy implications to practical challenges in nursing education and leadership. These discussions were crucial for sharing experiences and strategies across different healthcare systems, further enriching the collaborative nature of the conference. The breakout sessions were particularly dynamic, featuring a total of 24 presentations from the participating hospitals alongside their Twinning Partners from the USA. In addition, 35 posters were presented, showcasing innovative research and successful practices developed through the Magnet4Europe collaborations. Each conference attendee was given a small Magnet4Europe sticker at the beginning, which they could use to vote for their favorite poster. Day two kicked off with dynamic policy discussion contributed to by keynote speaker Professor Reinhard Busse from Technical University Berlin and leader of the Magnet4Europe German country team plus a panel of European policy experts: Dr. Maggie Langins, WHO Europe, Prof. Johan Van Eldere, European University Hospital Alliance, Dr. Matthias Wismar, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, and Mr. Gaetan Lafortune, OECD. The conference concluded on a high note with the poster awards and a prize raffle, the grand prize being two tickets to the ANCC Magnet/Pathway Conference 2024 and two coaching sessions from Tipton Health. The winners of the poster competition were celebrated for their outstanding contributions based on the number of sticker votes:
The enthusiasm and commitment of all participants were palpable, as was their readiness to continue the journey towards healthcare excellence. As we reflect on the successful closure of this chapter, the Magnet4Europe community remains excited about the future. The groundwork laid by this project promises to lead to further innovations and improvements in healthcare, with ongoing collaboration and sharing of best practices at its core. Here's to continuing the journey towards excellence in healthcare, together! For those who could not attend or wish to revisit the rich discussions and presentations, recordings from the conference are available online. Please find all links below:,
Day 1, April 24th
Day 2, April 25th
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This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 848031.
The Magnet Recognition Program® is a trademark of American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) registered in the United States of America and other jurisdictions, and is being used under license from ANCC. All rights are reserved by ANCC. ANCC 's consent to the use of the Magnet® mark shall not be construed as ANCC sponsoring, participating, or endorsing the Magnet4Europe research study. |