Saint Mary’s Hospital Emergency Department Receives 2026 ENA Lantern Award
July 21, 2026Categories: Awards and Recognition
The Saint Mary’s Hospital’s emergency department has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award, which recognizes exceptional and innovative performance in leadership, education, advocacy, research and evidence-based practice improvements that resulted in improved patient care and staff well-being.
Saint Mary's Hospital Emergency Department team celebrates ENA Lantern Award recognition.
“This award recognizes far more than clinical excellence—it honors the people behind the care. Every day, our Emergency Department team meets patients and families during moments of uncertainty and vulnerability with skill, empathy, and professionalism,” said Arla Washenko, MSN, RN, Emergency Department Nursing Director.
The Emergency Department has achieved significant improvements in patient safety, efficiency and patient experience through a series of evidence-based initiatives focused on reducing wait times and fall prevention. The implementation of a Rapid Medical Evaluation (RME) model transformed front-end patient flow by enabling immediate provider assessment, accelerating diagnostics and treatment and reducing door-to-room times and improving patient experience.
Patient safety was further enhanced through a robust fall prevention program that introduced expanded monitoring technology, standardized workflows, targeted staff education and multidisciplinary oversight. Together, these efforts have improved operational efficiency, strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration, reduced patient risk and reinforced the department’s commitment to delivering timely, high-quality, patient-centered emergency care.
“We are deeply honored to receive the Lantern Award and celebrate the remarkable individuals whose dedication makes this recognition possible,” said Leah Knecht, BSN, RN, Nursing Manager.
Saint Mary’s is among 126 recipients nationwide and one of two Connecticut hospitals that will be recognized in upcoming ENA publications, on the ENA website and during Emergency Nursing 2026, the association’s annual conference in Phoenix, Sept. 28-Oct. 1.
“The Lantern recognizes something incredibly special. 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,” said ENA President Dustin Bass, DNP, MHA, RN, CEN, NEA-BC. “Saint Mary’s Hospital is one of 126 emergency departments to achieve a Lantern Award this year.”
For more information on this year’s Lantern Award recipients, visit the Emergency Nurses Association website.