National designation recognizes commitment to superior care and superior services for the Dayton region.

Ohio’s Hospice affiliate Hospice of Dayton is the first hospice in the nation to earn Pathway to Excellence® designation. While 134 hospitals nationally have achieved this standard, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton® has become the first hospice dedicated to providing end-of-life care to do so.

Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton President and CEO Kent Anderson celebrated the announcement, saying “I am so immensely proud of our nursing teams in achieving this wonderful distinction and accreditation. In my 20 plus years in healthcare this is by far the most talented team of nurses and nursing leadership I have had the privilege of serving with.”

The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence Program is an organizational credential to recognize healthcare facilities that have created positive work environments where nurses can thrive.

Greg Toman, board chair for Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, said, “I am proud to be part of an organization that continually strives for excellence. Achieving the Pathway to Excellence accreditation reflects the commitment to our mission by our nursing team. Being the first hospice in the country to achieve this status reflects Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton’s national leadership in hospice care.”

Pathway-designated organizations participate in a rigorous review process that determines organizational commitment to nursing excellence. Nurses in the organization verify the organization meets the high Pathway to Excellence standards by participating in a completely confidential online survey.

Those achieving designation are deemed to be among the best places for nurses to work, with high nurse satisfaction and retention. Research shows that healthy work environments improve not only nurse satisfaction but also patient satisfaction and quality of patient care.
“The designation of Pathways to Excellence belongs to the nursing staff of Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton who give of themselves each day to provide superior care and services to our patients and families,” says Chief Nursing Officer Mary Murphy. “It is their work that I honor today. I am proud to be part of such an exceptional team.”

Organizations seeking the Pathway to Excellence credential must meet 12 practice standards that establish a positive work culture and environment as defined by organizational practices and policies. The standards include:
• Nurse shared governance
• A strongly safe environment
• Mechanisms to address patient care and practice concerns
• A sound orientation program,
• Strong professional development support
• Competitive wages and benefits
• Recognition for professional achievement
• Healthy work-life balance
• Collaborative interdisciplinary approaches to care
• Strong nurse leadership and
• Evidence based practice focused on patient outcomes and quality.