MetroHealth Emergency Departments Earn Lantern Awards

The MetroHealth System is proud to announce its four emergency departments earned the prestigious ENA Lantern Award® from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). The award recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate excellence and innovation in nursing leadership, clinical practice, education, advocacy and research.

MetroHealth’s Main Campus emergency department received the distinction for the second time, while the emergency departments in Parma, Cleveland Heights and Brecksville earned it for the first time. Only 126 emergency departments nationwide received the award in 2026. You can view the full list here.

Main Campus Emergency Department

Parma Emergency Department

Cleveland Heights Emergency Department

Brecksville Emergency Department

“This national recognition is a reflection of the extraordinary nurses and caregivers who show up every day, every night and every holiday to care for our communities,” said Candace Mori, PhD, RN, APRN, ACNS-BC, NEA-BC, ONC, Senior Vice President, System Chief Nursing and Patient Care Services Officer. “Emergency care happens during some of the most difficult and uncertain moments in a person's life. Our teams meet those moments with skill and compassion. We are incredibly proud to see each of these departments recognized on a national stage.”

To be considered for a Lantern Award, each emergency department must complete a comprehensive application demonstrating excellence across a range of key performance measures, from reducing emergency department boarding and improving stroke response times to enhancing pediatric readiness and supporting nurse professional development. Applications are reviewed and scored by a committee, which selects recipients each year.

“What makes this achievement especially meaningful is that each of our emergency departments reached this milestone while serving different communities and meeting different needs,” said Laura Schmidt, MSN, BSN, RN, CEN, NEA-BC, Executive Director, Nursing Services, Emergency Departments. “The common thread is the dedication of our teams and the compassionate, high-quality care they provide every day.”

The Lantern Awards further reinforce MetroHealth's national reputation for nursing excellence.

In February, MetroHealth earned its fifth Magnet designation for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) – and this time with distinction – making it the only hospital in Ohio to receive the program's highest honor.

ANCC's Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. The Magnet with Distinction designation is reserved for organizations that exceed the scoring thresholds required to attain Magnet recognition.

Click here to learn more about Emergency Care at MetroHealth.