Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center earns prestigious Emergency Nurses Association award

Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center has received the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) 2025 Lantern Award, recognizing the excellence of its caregivers in incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation. Hampden Medical Center earned the Lantern Award for its adult emergency department.

Penn State Health News

The Emergency Nurses Association bestows the Lantern Award on emergency departments that exemplify exceptional practice and innovative performance in the core areas of nursing leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research.

Among the noteworthy practices and attributes of the Hampden Medical Center emergency department, the award highlighted:

Escalating the shared governance system

Developing a successful nurse staffing plan

Addressing improved collaboration between the Emergency Department and inpatient units

Addressing patient experience issues and adding a Pivot Nurse to conduct first assessments

“The award demonstrates our team’s commitment to continuous patient care improvement, collaboration and a culture of respect and high standards,” said Kyle Snyder, president of Hampden and Holy Spirit medical centers. “I am proud of our leaders and staff, who have created an environment that consistently advances the safest, most efficient, patient-centered care.”

Hampden Medical Center’s Emergency Department treated nearly 28,000 patients during 2024.

“This is a great honor,” said Leslyn Williamson, regional chief operating officer and chief nursing officer. “The ENA award reminds us that to be exceptional in health care, our nursing team must own every aspect of the care delivery, sharing decision-making and problem-solving and embracing strong communications and trust in one another. This is a place that professionals can learn from the best and grow.”

The Lantern Award will be formally presented to Hampden Medical Center leadership at the ENA national conference in mid-September.

Named in honor of Florence Nightingale, credited as the founder of modern nursing and referred to as the “Lady With the Lamp” for her round-the-clock care given to wounded soldiers, the award is granted for three years.

Founded in 1970, ENA has 50,000 members worldwide and advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines and guides emergency healthcare public policy.