VA Long Beach Medical Center Director Awarded VA Secretary’s Excellence in Nursing Award

The VA Secretary's Awards in Nursing Excellence program, established in 1984, annually honors recipients whose contributions to the care of patients in any VA health care setting are patient-driven and demonstrate such excellence as to merit recognition from peers. Only one medical center director across the entire VA receives this award annually and only once in their career.

The recognition from VA is as follows: 

“Walt Dannenberg stands as a visionary leader at the helm of VA Long Beach Healthcare System (VALBHS), spearheading workplace engagement, continuous improvement, and accountability across the board. His implementation of the Daily Management System and Lean leadership philosophy has sparked a transformation in operations, fostering efficiency and innovation. Collaborating closely with nursing leadership and frontline nurses, he has been instrumental in promoting A3 thinking, reshaping problem-solving methodologies, and empowering nurses to lead impactful changes, resulting in unparalleled care and service excellence for Veterans. Under Mr. Dannenberg’s stewardship, VALBHS has embraced evidence-based practices as fundamental to nursing excellence. His advocacy for initiatives like Shared Governance has facilitated the establishment of over 40-unit practice councils and a system-wide practice council, facilitating the dissemination of ideas and best practices throughout the organization. His unwavering dedication to staff well-being, exemplified through initiatives like alternative work schedules and retention incentives, has solidified VALBHS’s standing as an employer of choice. Nationally lauded for his leadership in nursing care delivery, Mr. Dannenberg’s guidance has propelled VALBHS to unprecedented heights, earning prestigious recognitions such as the top performer in nursing home care.”

Stephen Dagadakis, Public Affairs Officer

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