WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital has achieved redesignation as a Pathway to Excellence hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), which recognizes a health care organization's commitment to creating a positive health care practice environment that empowers and engages staff.

WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital has been recognized as a Pathway to Excellence facility since 2019 and is currently one of only six hospitals across Pennsylvania, including WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital and WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, that has achieved this designation.

"With this designation, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital has once again shown that it is among a very select group of hospitals that demonstrate an organizational priority of maintaining a culture of sustained excellence and nursing staff engagement," said Orie Chambers, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital.

The ANCC Pathway to Excellence Program defines and measures the essential elements of an optimal nursing practice environment. Designation confirms to the community that a health care organization is committed to nurses, recognizes what is important to nursing practice and values nurses' contributions in the workplace.

"Our nursing team takes tremendous pride in being designated as a Pathway to Excellence hospital and we hope that is evident in our continuing efforts to provide excellent care to all our patients," said Tina Citro, vice president, WellSpan Health, and president, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital. "Our nurses and support staff are truly dedicated to protecting, promoting, and improving health care for all. Being recognized again as a Pathway to Excellence hospital reaffirms that our team members strive to be the best they can be."

The hospital is commemorating ten years since joining WellSpan Health in the month of October, as well as recent recognition in being named one of the top three emergency departments in the country for emergency nursing, according to the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing.

To earn the Pathway to Excellence designation, a health care organization must demonstrate that it has integrated six practice standards into its operating policies, procedures, and management structure. These standards focus on the workplace, a balanced lifestyle for nurses, and policies that support nurses on the job.