NEWS RELEASES
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit Awarded Beacon Gold for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Legacy Salmon Creek ICU is the only hospital unit in Washington state to receive gold-level distinction; additional Legacy hospitals receive silver-level distinction.
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 24, 2026 — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has recognized the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center with a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence. As the only hospital unit in Washington to receive a gold-level distinction, this is a significant achievement given more than 575 units from around the country applied for the award in 2025.
The Beacon Award for Excellence is a national recognition and honors hospital units that demonstrate exceptional leadership, evidence based practice, high-quality patient outcomes, staff engagement and a supportive, healthy work environment.
“This recognition demonstrates how our medical-surgical ICU team is exceptional in creating a safe, caring and healing environment that both improves patient outcomes, while also positively impacting the community we serve,” said Tim Bock, vice president and chief nursing officer, Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center. “I couldn’t be prouder of our team’s commitment to providing the highest level of care for our patients, each other and the community.”
To earn the Beacon Award, units undergo a rigorous evaluation process that assesses performance across leadership, staffing, communication, patient outcomes and continuous learning. The award aligns with AACN’s Healthy Work Environment standards, emphasizing collaboration, respect and excellence in clinical practice.
For the 2026 award year, 16% of applicants received a gold Beacon Award, with 92 units recognized at the top level. The majority of units, 74%, received silver recognition. Bronze awards were received by 10% of the applying units. A full list of Beacon Award winners is located on the AACN website.
In addition to Legacy Salmon Creek’s recognition, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center was awarded silver-level distinction across three units, including its Cardiovascular Intensive Care and Neuro Trama Intensive Care units and the Oregon Burn Center. Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital also received silver-level distinction for its Kern Critical Care unit.
About Legacy Health
Legacy Health is a large, nonprofit, integrated health system with seven hospital campuses serving Oregon and Southwest Washington, including a full-service children’s hospital and a behavioral health emergency services facility. Legacy also operates an extensive ambulatory services network that includes 70 clinic locations and offers a broad continuum of care. The organization is a $3 billion + community system of care with over 14,000 employees in two states. Known for its commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care, Legacy Health has earned a strong reputation for clinical excellence, community partnership, and mission-driven service in the Pacific Northwest. For more information, visit www.legacyhealth.org.
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