UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT HEALTH NETWORK – ELIZABETHTOWN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL RECEIVES PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION

ECH one of only four NYS hospitals to receive this prestigious designation

ELIZABETHTOWN, NY (March 21, 2019) – University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital is pleased to announce it has achieved Pathway to Excellence designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Elizabethtown Community Hospital is one of only four hospitals in New York State to receive the designation and one of only 169 to receive it internationally.

The Pathway to Excellence program recognizes healthcare organizations that create work environments where nurses feel empowered and can flourish. The designation identifies Elizabethtown Community Hospital as one of the best places for nurses to work.

“Our dedicated and skilled nurses are committed to giving our patients the highest quality of care,” said Julie Tromblee, MSN, vice president and chief nursing officer for Elizabethtown Community Hospital.  “We’re so proud of this designation because it reflects our commitment to our nurses and to the work we’ve done together to create a culture where they feel valued, trusted and supported.”

ANCC requires Pathway designated organizations to meet six Pathway Standards essential to creating an ideal nursing workplace environment. The standards focus on shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being, and professional development. 

Research shows that a workplace environment that engages and inspires nurses has a direct positive impact on nurse satisfaction and retention, which enhances patient care and safety.

To earn the designation, ECH completed a rigorous application process that included the submission of a comprehensive evidence-based document, and the participation of at least 60 percent of the hospital’s nurses in a voluntary, confidential online survey. At the end of the survey, 70 percent of nurses validated that our organization met the Pathway to Excellence practice standards.

Examples of ECH’s initiatives that have fostered a positive working environment include:

• Professional growth opportunities including tuition assistance for advanced degrees and certifications, and financial assistance for certification preparation courses.
• Structured relaxation breaks and the creation of a mobile serenity cart with a yoga mat, relaxation music, and foot and back massager.
• Collaboration with frontline nursing staff on quality improvement plans, including a multifaceted fall prevention program.

Tromblee noted that although the Pathway to Excellence designation is awarded by a nursing organization, it could not have been achieved without help from every department in the hospital. “The Pathway to Excellence designation is a tremendous honor, not only for our nursing staff, but for our entire team,” she added.  “Our nurses couldn’t excel at their jobs without the trust and support of their colleagues across the organization.”

About ANCC

The American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, 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 health care organizations for promoting safe, positive work environments through the Pathway to Excellence and Pathway to Excellence in Long Term Care programs; 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

About Elizabethtown Community Hospital

The University of Vermont Health Network - Elizabethtown Community Hospital is a designated critical access hospital and the primary health care provider serving the 39,000 people who live, work and vacation in Essex County, NY and the surrounding region. Across the Elizabethtown and Ticonderoga campuses, the hospital maintains two 24-hour emergency rooms, a 25-bed inpatient unit, physical therapy, laboratory, and digital radiology departments, and a variety of specialty physician clinics on a weekly and monthly basis.  Elizabethtown Community Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission and is licensed and certified by the New York State Department of Health and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

About The University of Vermont Health Network

The University of Vermont Health Network is an academic health system that is comprised of six affiliate hospitals, a multi-specialty medical group, and a home health agency. We serve the residents of Vermont and northern New York with a shared mission: working together, we improve people’s lives.  Our partners include:

• The University of Vermont Medical Center  
• The University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Alice Hyde Medical Center
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Porter Medical Center
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Visiting Nurses Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties

Our health care professionals are driven to provide high-quality, cost-efficient care as close to home as possible. Strengthened by our academic connection to the University of Vermont, each hospital remains committed to its local community by providing compassionate, personal care shaped by the latest medical advances and delivered by highly skilled experts.