White Plains, N.Y., January 23, 2026 – White Plains Hospital’s Critical Care (ICU and CCU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) have received the Silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
The annual Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes units that meet or exceed six specific AACN criteria that achieve nursing excellence, including: leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management, and learning and development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurement.
“This award emphasizes what we have long known: that our critical care nurses bring a truly inspiring level of determination and dedication with them every day,” added Kerri Elsabrout, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer at White Plains Hospital. “As with all of our nurses, they work tirelessly to build and maintain a collaborative environment where the patient always comes first and we are once again proud to receive the Beacon Award for our amazing units.”
AACN President Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN, applauded the commitment of the caregivers in White Plains Hospital’s Critical Care and Neonatal Intensive Care Units for working together to meet and exceed the organization’s Silver level designation. “Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care,” Marsh noted.
About White Plains Hospital
White Plains Hospital is a proud member of the Montefiore Health System, serving as its tertiary hub of advanced care in the Hudson Valley. The Hospital is a 292-bed not-for-profit healthcare organization with the primary mission of providing exceptional acute and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. White Plains Hospital has outpatient medical facilities across Westchester, including multispecialty practices in Armonk, Hawthorne, Larchmont, New Rochelle, Rye Brook, Scarsdale, Somers, Yonkers and Yorktown Heights; and Scarsdale Medical Group locations in Harrison and Scarsdale.
The Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission, and in 2025 received another 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — the highest distinction offered by the federal agency – for the fourth consecutive year. In addition, the Hospital received its third Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a distinction held by only two percent of hospitals in the country. White Plains Hospital has consistently received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades®, and in 2025 was awarded an “A” Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group for the 14th consecutive time.
About the Beacon Award for Excellence
The Beacon Award for Excellence is available to U.S. and Canadian units where patients receive their principal nursing care after hospital. Units that receive the Beacon Award for Excellence meet criteria in the six categories listed above. To learn more, visit www.aacn.org/beacon.