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Palomar Pomerado Health is the first public health district in California to receive systemwide Magnet designation.

“This is a historic moment,” says Lorie Shoemaker, RN, MSN, chief nurse executive for Palomar Pomerado Health.

The Magnet journey began in 2004 as a collaborative effort among nurses, physicians, staff, administrators, and volunteers.

“For six months, I met with nursing leaders and frontline staff — it was wonderful to craft this vision,” Shoemaker says.

Five years later, after an extensive application, review, and site visit process — including a submission of more than 3,500 pages of documentation — PPH received the four-year designation in April.

PPH facilities that achieved the Magnet status include Palomar Medical Center, Pomerado Hospital, Villa Pomerado, Skilled Nursing Facility; Palomar Continuing Care Center, Skilled Nursing Facility; and Palomar Pomerado Home Health. Now that Shoemaker’s nursing staff met their benchmark goal, “the journey continues,” she says.

The team is looking forward to the 2011 opening of Palomar Medical Center West, a more-than $800 million campus that will provide expanded trauma and emergency services, heart surgery, neurosurgery, vascular services, and other essential care for North County residents.

“When we put our mind to it, we can do anything,” Shoemaker says.

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Laura M. Stakal is regional editor for NurseWeek. To comment, e-mail editorCA@nurseweek.com.