ECMC Achieves National Pathway to Excellence® Nursing Designation
ECMC is one of only 182 organizations world-wide to receive prestigious designation for its Commitment to a Positive Practice Environment and a Culture of Sustained Excellence
BUFFALO, NY—Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation joins a premier group of organizations that have received Pathway to Excellence® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). ECMC is currently one of only 182 Pathway to Excellence®-designated organizations world-wide, one of five such designated organizations in New York State and the only Pathway to Excellence®-designated organization in Western New York. There are 6,146 hospitals in the U.S.
ECMCC President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D., said, “ECMC nurses have a long, proud history of providing high-quality exceptional care to every patient they serve. By meeting the rigorous Pathway to Excellence® requirements, our remarkable ECMC nurses have achieved another well-deserved confirmation of their tremendous skill and caring culture. This is a great accomplishment for our nurses and we thank them for their continuing dedication and commitment to providing True Care to every patient no matter their background or circumstance.”
Karen Ziemianski, RN, MS, ECMCC Senior Vice President of Nursing said, “ECMC’s nurses are an integral part of our healthcare team, with a voice in policy and practice. Pathway nurses are engaged, resulting in higher job satisfaction, reduced turnover, and better patient outcomes. As a Pathway organization, ECMC remains committed to enhancing quality of care, patient and nursing safety, and the continuing improvement of healthcare delivery.”
To qualify, organizations must meet six Practice Standards essential to an ideal nursing practice environment: Shared Decision-Making, Leadership, Safety, Quality, Well-Being, and Professional Development. Applicants undergo a review process to fully document the integration of those standards in the organization’s practices, policies, and culture. Pathway designation can only be achieved if an organization’s nurses validate the data and other evidence submitted, via an independent, confidential survey. This critical element exemplifies the theme of empowering and giving nurses a voice. Nurses trust that Pathway-designated organizations respect nursing contributions, support professional development and nurture optimal practice environments.
