The magnet recognition program was developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association. It recognizes health care organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing practice and quality patient care as a driving force. Organizations that are formally recognized must possess a number of specific qualities;

• Strong nursing leadership, shared organizational decision-making and effective communication;
• A model of patient care that emphasizes nursing accountability, coordination of patient care and vision of patient advocacy;
• Commitment to professional nursing “best practices” and professional growth;
• Continuous quality improvement in practice;
• Interdisciplinary relationships.

Hospitals that provide care to women and newborns at moderate risk, operate intermediate care nurseries and do not operate NICU or Special Care Nursery.

As certified and defined by a nationally recognized certifying body, PSCs are hospitals that meet standards to support better outcomes for stroke care, including the following: a dedicated stroke-focused program, staffing by qualified medical professionals trained in stroke care, coordination of post-discharge patient self-care, and other eligibility standards. Certified PSC hospitals may pursue voluntary designation from the Illinois Department of Public Health by submitting verification of the PSC national certification and a completed Application for Stroke Center Designation to the Department of Public Health.