The Lantern Award recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate strong performance in leadership, nursing practice, education, advocacy and research. Photo created with AI on 8/6/26
International recognition highlights improvements in patient safety, emergency nursing, testing times and care for victims of violence and abuse
WILMINGTON — ChristianaCare’s Wilmington Hospital Emergency Department has received the Emergency Nurses Association’s Lantern Award for a second consecutive cycle, recognizing the department for excellence in nursing practice, patient safety and innovation.
The new designation covers 2026 through 2029. The emergency department previously received the award for the 2023-26 cycle.
Wilmington Hospital was one of 126 emergency departments recognized internationally this year.
“Earning the Lantern Award for a second consecutive cycle is a testament to the extraordinary skill and commitment of the Wilmington Hospital Emergency Department team,” said Danielle Weber, ChristianaCare’s chief nurse executive. “These caregivers have created an environment where nurses are empowered to identify opportunities, apply evidence and lead changes that result in safer, better care for patients.”
Recognition focuses on emergency nursing
The Lantern Award recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate strong performance in leadership, nursing practice, education, advocacy and research.
Named for Florence Nightingale, the award also considers an emergency department’s use of evidence-based practices, commitment to patient safety and efforts to create a healthy workplace.
Applicants undergo a blinded review that examines performance measures and detailed examples of the department’s work.
“The Lantern recognizes something incredibly special,” Emergency Nurses Association President Dustin Bass said. “It isn’t an award for an individual or an entire hospital — it’s a recognition earned by an emergency department and the team that powers it every day.”
Department cared for nearly 64,000 patients
During the one-year period included in its award application, the Wilmington Hospital Emergency Department cared for 63,765 patients.
ChristianaCare’s application highlighted several nurse-led and interdisciplinary projects designed to provide faster and safer care.
“What distinguishes this team is its ability to turn frontline insight into measurable improvements,” said Jennifer Moberg, ChristianaCare’s vice president of Emergency Services. “From reducing the time it takes patients to receive critical testing to redesigning triage so patients can begin care sooner, these caregivers work across disciplines to solve problems and improve patient outcomes and experience.”
Faster heart testing
One improvement involved the time required to provide electrocardiograms to patients experiencing chest pain or related symptoms.
The department created a dedicated ECG room in its triage area. By the end of 2025, the average time from a patient entering the department to receiving an ECG had fallen to about seven minutes, below the national benchmark of 10 minutes, according to ChristianaCare.
Nurses also created an “Idea Bin” that allows employees to submit suggestions by scanning QR codes placed throughout the department.
The first 42 submissions resulted in 26 projects or operational changes. Those changes included making point-of-care testing more accessible and placing commonly used supplies closer to caregivers.
Forensic nursing program expands
The award application also highlighted the growth of Wilmington Hospital’s forensic nurse examiner program, which provides specialized care to patients affected by violence, assault or abuse.
The program completed 158 in-person forensic examinations in 2023, 299 in 2024 and 386 in 2025.
ChristianaCare said the expansion has allowed more patients to receive specialized forensic care at Wilmington Hospital without being transferred to another facility.
Other initiatives included improvements in patient flow, pediatric emergency readiness and nursing education. Emergency department nurses also received specialized training to provide ultrasound-guided intravenous access.
“This recognition belongs to the entire emergency department team,” said Christina Hoddinott, who led the development of the department’s award application. “Nursing is a big puzzle, and each of us brings a piece. By working together, we keep finding better ways to care for our patients and support one another.”
To Go Box
- What: Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award
- Recipient: Wilmington Hospital Emergency Department
- Award period: 2026 through 2029
- Previous award: 2023 through 2026
- Patients served during application period: 63,765
- Learn more: Visit ChristianaCare’s website for information about Wilmington Hospital and its emergency services.
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