Health

UMMC Neuroscience ICU earns Beacon Award for Excellence

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has recognized the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Neuroscience ICU with a Beacon Award for Excellence, UMMC said. Fewer than 600 units nationwide earned the designation in 2025, the announcement said.

The Beacon Award is a national recognition given by the AACN to critical-care units that demonstrate high standards of nursing practice and patient care, according to information from the association. The award is widely regarded in the nursing field as a marker of consistent quality and a supportive clinical environment.

UMMC operates an academic medical center in Jackson, Mississippi, that provides specialized care for patients with neurological conditions. The Neuroscience ICU treats critically ill patients with complex brain and spinal conditions and works with multidisciplinary teams of physicians and nurses.

UMMC said the designation highlights the unit’s commitment to patient safety and staff excellence and may aid in recruitment and continued quality improvement. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

Jon Myers

Jon Ross Myers founded Mississippi News Group in 2013. Before founding the organization, he worked at The Daily Mississippian, The Marion Salute and The Southern Sentinel. A Mississippi journalist and writer based in Ripley, he received second place in poetry in the 2025 William Faulkner Literary Competition for "The Garden."