April 9, 2026
Nursing excellence that endures
Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center celebrates earning its second Magnet designation.
Local leaders, along with regional and national leaders, are all smiles as Downey Medical Center received its second Magnet designation.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center awarded Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center its second Magnet designation, reaffirming the medical facility’s commitment to nursing excellence, high-quality patient care, and innovation in nursing practice.
The gold standard in nursing
Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center earned its second Magnet designation — the gold standard in nursing — recognizing sustained excellence in patient care.
Magnet designation is the highest national recognition for professional nursing, awarded to hospitals that demonstrate exceptional standards in practice, patient care, and outcomes.
“It’s the gold standard and the highest recognition a health care organization can achieve, and Downey has truly earned it,” said Toby Marsh, interim senior vice president of National Patient Care Services, and chief nurse executive for Kaiser Permanente. “Our goal is for Kaiser Permanente to be the number one place for nurses to practice and for patients to receive care, and Downey is living that commitment every day.”
The designation is awarded following a comprehensive, multiyear review that includes written documentation, comparison of patient outcomes to national benchmarks, and a multiday on-site visit by ANCC.
“This recognition speaks to the culture that Downey has built and sustained over time,” said Michelle Gaskill-Hames, regional president for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California and Hawaii. “Magnet is never just about recognition. It’s about the incredible, consistent focus on excellence that our nurses exude — day-to-day, shift-to-shift, patient-to-patient. It’s about the highly reliable care delivered by our skilled, multidisciplinary care teams, and the mindset of continuous improvement that is a hallmark of our Downey team."
A rare achievement, earned again
By earning a second Magnet designation, Downey Medical Center demonstrates sustained excellence and joins a select group of hospitals nationwide that continue to meet Magnet standards. Downey is the third medical center for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California to receive a second designation.
“Earning our second Magnet designation places Downey Medical Center among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide and affirms our standing as a world-class institution,” said Mitch Winnik, senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center. “This honor reflects the strength of our nursing culture and teamwork, along with our commitment to advancing performance and outcomes.”
In addition to Magnet designation, Downey Medical Center received 11 Magnet exemplars, recognizing nurse-led initiatives that resulted in measurable improvements in care and practice. The exemplars include recognition for structural empowerment, professional practice, clinical quality, ambulatory nursing, and patient experience.
“This achievement is a true celebration of our nursing leaders and front-line nurses,” said Barbara Murphy, chief nurse executive at Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center. “Earning Magnet recognition is a proud milestone, not the end — it marks the start of an exciting journey to innovate, elevate our practice, and deliver even more phenomenal care for every patient and member we serve.”
