OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital Earns ANCC Pathway to Excellence Designation

Key Takeaways: 

• OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital earned the ANCC Pathway to Excellence designation.
• The recognition highlights a supportive, empowering nursing environment.
• Nurses reported strong alignment with national Pathway standards.
• The Designation reflects a commitment to excellence patient care. 

OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital has earned the American Nurses Credentialing Center Pathway to Excellence designation, recognizing its positive nursing practice environment and commitment to supporting the nurses who care for patients, families and the Dublin community.

“Earning the ANCC Pathway to Excellence designation is an important milestone in our ongoing work to elevate health care delivery for the communities we serve,” Cherie Smith, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, president of OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital and OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, said. “It reflects the dedication of our nurses, leaders and interdisciplinary partners who embraced this journey and brought the Pathway standards to life across our hospital. We’re proud to celebrate this achievement and grateful to everyone who helped make it possible. Their commitment has strengthened our culture and helps us continue providing exceptional care to every patient and family who turns to us.”

The international designation recognizes health care organizations where frontline nurses are supported, involved in decision-making, encouraged to grow professionally and empowered to provide high-quality patient care. The Pathway framework centers on six standards: Shared Decision-Making, Leadership, Safety, Quality, Well-Being and Professional Development.

Together, these standards give nurses a voice in patient care and policies, promote supportive leadership, prioritize safety and quality, and create opportunities for well-being and professional growth.

For Dublin Methodist, this recognition reflects our deep commitment to our frontline nurses, while advancing nursing leadership and sustaining a workplace culture where nurses feel respected, supported, and valued,” said Abby Evans, manager of Nursing Excellence at OhioHealth. “This designation matters because it is more than an award. It is a visible marker of the environment we are building for the people who care for our patients, families, and community every day.”

“This designation recognition is a meaningful reflection of the culture our nurses create every day at Dublin Methodist Hospital, one where their voices shape decisions, leaders are present and supportive, safety and quality guide our work, well-being matters, and professional growth is encouraged,” Jodie Wegmiller, Chief Nursing Officer & Vice President of Patient Care Services at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital and OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital said. “Most importantly, it affirms our commitment to creating an environment where nurses can thrive and, in turn, provide exceptional care to our patients, families, and community.”

Earning the designation required an extensive evaluation by the ANCC. Dublin Methodist first assessed its nursing environment against national eligibility standards, then submitted a detailed 600-page document showing how the six Pathway standards are embedded in daily nursing operations.

The process concluded with a confidential survey open to all 553 Dublin Methodist nurses. The hospital achieved 78% participation, with nurses expressing strong agreement that they experience the Pathway standards in practice.

“That response was not only a requirement of designation; it was a powerful affirmation from our nurses that this culture is real, lived, and meaningful,” Evans said.

Dublin Methodist nurses and associates were at the heart of achieving this designation. Nurses helped assess the care environment, prepare the 600-page submission and encourage survey participation, reflecting their daily commitment to patients and one another. Their work in shared decision-making, quality and safety showed how Dublin Methodist puts the Pathway standards into practice.

“This achievement belongs to our nurses, our leaders, our interdisciplinary partners, and to everyone who believes that excellent patient care begins with an excellent environment for caregivers,” Evans said.

The designation reflects a nursing culture grounded in empowerment, collaboration, professional growth and a commitment to doing what is best for patients. That culture translates directly to the patient experience. “When nurses feel valued, supported and empowered, they are better positioned to advocate for patients, communicate effectively with patients and families, collaborate across disciplines and identify opportunities to improve care,” Evans said.

Patients experience that culture through compassionate interactions, strong communication, attention to safety and a team that genuinely invested in their well-being.

“For our community members, this designation is a promise that Dublin Methodist is committed to excellence not only in outcomes, but in the experience of care,” Evans said.

The Pathway to Excellence designation follows a four-year cycle, requiring continued assessment, implementation of nursing practice improvements and evaluation of the hospital’s positive practice environment. Dublin Methodist will continue listening to nurses and associates, learning from patients and families, and seeking opportunities to improve the care experience.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we also recognize that Pathway to Excellence is not a finish line; it is a foundation,” Evans said. “It challenges us to keep listening to our nurses, keep investing in their growth, and keep building the kind of hospital our community deserves.”