SILVER SPRING, Md. and KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 20, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and Cerner Corporation (Nasdaq:CERN), a global supplier of healthcare solutions, announced Poudre Valley Hospital of Fort Collins, Colorado as the winner of the 2009 Magnet Prize at the National Magnet Conference(R) in Louisville, KY. This award recognizes innovative nursing programs and practices in ANCC Magnet-recognized organizations.

The Magnet Recognition Program(R) was developed to recognize healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and uphold the tradition of professional nursing practice. The Magnet Prize is awarded only to Magnet-recognized organizations. Winning organizations must meet specific criteria such as extraordinary nursing activities that have been sustained over an extended period of time, innovations that are beyond the characteristics of Magnet organizations, and positive outcomes that have been demonstrated and empirically linked to the innovation.

The winning entry from Poudre Valley Hospital highlighted their Community Case Management Program, which was selected as a pioneer in the area of community outreach for its track record of reducing costs and improving outcomes in managing complex patients with chronic conditions.

This unique program provides a continuum of care, focuses on preventative care, and improves the ability of patients, families, and providers to work together to manage chronic disease. Nurses and social workers at this facility have worked together for 14 years to develop and sustain the Community Case Management Program. The program targets patients with inadequate support systems and financial resources, and provides them with a safety net to deal with complex issues that may otherwise result in avoidable visits to the Emergency Room or healthcare provider.

The Community Case Management Program helps patients with disease management and life skills so that they can continue living in their own homes. But, what sets this program above others of its kind is that it is financially supported by the health system without grants or limitations on services. By reducing unnecessary ER visits and hospital stays, this program has shown a cost savings that is well above the cost to maintain the program.

"Our community case management program has been a magnificent win-win situation for our patients and our hospital," said Craig Luzinsk, Poudre Valley Hospital's chief nursing officer. "Thanks to the program, patients can remain in their homes, skilled nursing facilities or more appropriate environments.