Pathway to Excellence
Baptist Health Madisonville earns Pathway to Excellence designation
Baptist Health Madisonville achieves
Pathway to Excellence® designation for nursing
(Madisonville, Ky.) August 16, 2016 — Baptist Health Madisonville has achieved Pathway to Excellence® designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), recognizing its positive work environment where nurses can excel.
It is the fourth Kentucky hospital and only the second west of Louisville to earn the recognition. Only 140 facilities in the country are recognized by the program, which is open to any size or type of health care group where nurses care for patients. Baptist Health LaGrange and Baptist Health Paducah are also Pathway to Excellence® designated, while the final Kentucky hospital is St. Joseph Martin.
Robert L. Ramey, president, said a positive work environment has a direct impact on work performance and patient care. “Our patients tell us every day how grateful they are for the safe, quality and compassionate care our nurses provide,” he said. “This designation is simply an external validation of our excellent nursing staff providing quality care to our patients.”
According to the ANCC, the designation means nurses trust the hospital, the hospital supports nurses and the community benefits from satisfied nurses equipped to deliver high quality care.
More than 90 percent of the Baptist Health Madisonville nursing staff participated in a confidential survey to validate the hospital’s application. The survey results are critical because they give nurses a voice.
“Our survey results were exceptional,” Ramey said. “I know we have the very best nurses, and it is gratifying to hear that they feel empowered and valued by our organization.”
Baptist Health nurses responded overwhelmingly. To achieve the designation, a hospital must have at least 60 percent of its nursing staff respond on the survey; Baptist Health had 93 percent. And it must receive a 75 percent favorable response rate to 21 of the 28 questions.
Ramey commended Chief Nursing Officer Tiffany Cabibbo and her team for leadership that values nurses’ contributions and provides the benefits nurses identify as important to their practice. Benefits include a collaborative atmosphere, a balanced lifestyle, competitive wages, and tuition for continuing education.
“Our goal was to formally acknowledge the level of nursing excellence and professional autonomy that we have here and that lead us to pursue the Pathway to Excellence® because it is a nurse centric recognition,” Cabibbo said. “This recognition is a testament to each and every nurse providing nursing care and expertise in a variety of roles to our patients and families,” added Cabibbo.
While the recognition is a high achievement for nurses and the hospital, Ramey said it is also important to the community. “Madisonville and this region can be proud to have a hospital with this level of patient care from a highly-trained and satisfied workforce,” Ramey said. “At Baptist Health Madisonville we care for our patients just like family. It is important to us to provide an exceptional level of quality care and a positive patient experience right here at home for our community.”
Baptist Health Madisonville, one of the region’s largest employers, is part of the Baptist Health system, which this year received its second annual listing among the top 15 Best Places to Work in Kentucky.
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About ANCC
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), provides individuals and organizations throughout the nursing profession with the resources they need to achieve practice excellence. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify nurses in specialty practice areas; recognize healthcare organizations for promoting safe, positive work environments through the Pathway to Excellence Program® and Pathway to Excellence in Long Term Care™; and accredit providers of continuing nursing education. In addition, ANCC provides leading-edge information and education services and products to support its core credentialing programs. www.nursecredentialing.org