WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. – Lexington Medical Center’s emergency department has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Lantern Award by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA).

Lexington Medical Center is the only hospital in the Midlands to receive this recognition.

About the Lantern Award

This Lantern Award recognizes exceptional innovation and evidence-based practice improvements that resulted in improved patient care and staff well-being.

To be considered for a Lantern, departments must submit a comprehensive application which measures the ways they excel at meeting challenges that range from ED boarding to lowering the time it takes for stroke patients to receive care to improving pediatric readiness or enhancing nurse professional development. A committee scores applications to determine recipients annually.

Lexington Health is among 126 recipients that will be recognized in upcoming ENA publications, on the ENA website, and during Emergency Nursing 2026, the association’s yearly conference later this fall.

What They’re Saying

“Awards recognize accomplishments, but the Lantern Award recognizes a culture.  It is a testament to the compassion, professionalism, innovation, and unwavering commitment our Emergency Department team demonstrates every day,” said Lexington Health Emergency Department Director of Nursing Robin Ward, MSN, RN, CEN. “I am incredibly proud to serve alongside this exceptional group of professionals.”

“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. “Lexington Medical Center is one of 126 emergency departments to achieve a Lantern Award this year.” 

About Lexington Health

Lexington Health is a comprehensive network of care that includes six community medical and urgent care centers, more than 60 physician practices, more than 9,000 health care professionals and Lexington Medical Center, a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. The hospital was ranked best hospital in the Columbia Metro by U.S. News & World Report, was selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare and was the first hospital in the state to achieve Magnet with Distinction status for excellence in nursing care. Lexington Health Cancer Center is an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence. The network includes a cardiovascular program recognized by the American College of Cardiology as South Carolina’s first HeartCARE Center. The network also has an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, and an Alzheimer’s care center. Lexington Medical Center operates one of the busiest Emergency departments in South Carolina, treating nearly 100,000 patients each year. The hospital delivers nearly 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 35,000 surgeries.

About the Emergency Nurses Association

The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With 40,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines, and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.