Today, Southcoast Health nurses, leaders and staff celebrated the official announcement that Tobey Hospital received designation as a Pathway to Excellence® Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), joining an elite group of hospitals worldwide that lead the way in providing supportive practice environments, shared governance and elevating nurses’ voices.
The Pathway designation is a global credential that highlights Southcoast Health’s commitment to creating a healthy work environment where nurses feel empowered and valued. Very few hospitals earn this prestigious recognition. Following Charlton Memorial Hospital’s designation in 2024, Tobey is now only the fourth hospital in Massachusetts to achieve Pathway designation – and the first in the system to attain the Pathway Designation with Distinction status.
“The pivotal role our exceptional nurses have played in achieving this honor cannot be overstated,” said Michele Wakeman, MSN, RN and Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Tobey Hospital. “This accomplished group of nursing professionals exemplifies a culture of excellence and the highest standards of care for our patients. I especially want to thank our Pathway to Excellence Program Manager, Andrea Laliberte, DNP, RN, and Coordinator Kelly Buckingham, RN, for expertly leading this process.”
Tobey’s nurses are an integral part of the healthcare team, with a voice in policy and practice. Throughout the designation process, this was verified with nurse participation required in a written application and survey attesting that the hospital environment supports its nurses’ needs and promotes high standards.
The Pathway program requires 60 percent of hospital nurses to participate in the survey portion of the application to share their perceptions of the workplace environment. The nurses at Tobey not only met but greatly exceeded this requirement with an impressive 100 percent participation.
“This Pathway designation sends a powerful message to our community that Tobey’s nurses are highly valued for their clinical expertise and the exceptional care they provide to our patients,” said David O. McCready, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southcoast Health. “Thank you to Jackie, Michele, Andrea and Kelly, who oversaw the designation process, and the entire Tobey nursing staff who ultimately achieved this important designation. I am immensely proud of all Tobey nurses, providers and staff members. Our shared commitment to our patients and each other enables us to maintain a positive practice environment for our dedicated staff and the communities we serve.”
“This achievement reinforces that we have created a strong, inclusive and positive culture for our nurses that encourages engagement and supports their career growth and wellbeing,” said Jacqueline Somerville, PhD, RN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Southcoast Health. “I could not be prouder of these caregivers for the remarkable teamwork they demonstrated throughout the process to earn the Pathway to Excellence designation. Thanks to our nurses’ dedication to our patients, community and each other, Tobey is more than just a hospital; it is a place of healing, compassion and excellence.”
Beginning their Pathway to Excellence journey in May 2023, nurses at Tobey implemented wellbeing initiatives and shared governance days, relaunched unit-based councils, and researched and implemented nursing evidence-based projects. In addition, nurses collaborated with community partners to provide much-needed donations to support our most vulnerable community members.
“All of these initiatives are a clear demonstration of the commitment of our nursing staff to make Tobey Hospital an exceptional place to practice and receive care,” said Somerville.
As Southcoast Health works to expand Pathway to Excellence designation across its three community hospitals, individual donors have generously provided the seed funding for each hospital to launch its Pathway designation journey.
Both Charlton Memorial’s and Tobey’s designations will serve as a blueprint as St. Luke’s Hospital nurses continue their Pathway journey, showing Southcoast Health’s commitment to elevating the standard of care and professional fulfillment for nurses across the organization.
To learn more about nursing at Southcoast Health please visit www.southcoast.org/careers/.
Southcoast Health is a not-for-profit, charitable, community-based health system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
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