The hospital is also the first Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in NewEngland to earn this accreditation. (CAH status is designated by the Department of Health and Human Services. Among other requirements, a CAH must provide 24-hour emergency services in a rural area.)
The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence designation signifies that the hospital supports an environment promoting outstanding nursing care. Only 90 hospitals nationwide have attained this accreditation.
The ANCC accreditation follows a detailed review of Rumford Hospital’s nursing program, focusing on nurse decision-making processes, work environment safety, patient care safety and responsiveness, training and ongoing education, clinical competence, accountability, evidence-based practice, and other ANCC standards.
Rumford Hospital Nursing Director Jane Aube said the importance of Pathway to Excellence accreditation “goes to the heart of patient care” because it analyzes the nursing environment in which patient care is delivered. Such a comprehensive review, she says, assures that “all the components are in place for excellent patient care,” including highly skilled care providers, ongoing quality improvement processes, and effectively teamwork between various care providers.
“Meeting Pathway to Excellence standards demonstrates that we vigorously promote team work between nurses, therapists, physicians, and pharmacists by collaborating on each patient's treatment and recovery. It means that patients and families are well informed about their course of treatment and care upon discharge,” Aube said.
“Pathway standards emphasize the importance of advanced education and clinical certifications in nursing, which increase the nurses' bedside skills. Safety is another Pathway standard that our nurses have met, meaning that they consistently ask ‘What can we do better in taking care of patients?’ For example, how do we continue to reduce patient falls, medication errors, and infection rates?” Aube added.
Rumford Hospital President David Frumsaid achieving Pathway to Excellence accreditation demonstrates “that Rumford Hospital supports an outstanding nursing staff that provides safe, effective care to patients, whether in the emergency department, the operating room, or any other service area. We are pleased to earn this designation and very proud of our nurses.”
Pathway to Excellence was established to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. The ANCC accreditation program recognizes the importance of high quality continuing nursing education and skills-based competency programs.
Rumford Hospital maintains a 24-hour emergency department and intensive care unit, serves the area’s primary care needs, and supports high-tech diagnostic services, including CT scanning, ultrasound and osteoporosis screening. Thehospital offers medical-surgical nursing services, a birthing center, women's health services and ambulatory surgery. The hospital’s swing bed program provides care for patients who need skilled nursing services.
Rumford Hospital is a member of Central Maine Healthcare, which includes Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and Bridgton Hospital.
For more information, call Robin Gilbert at 369-1245.
PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE LEADERS – The Pathway to Excellence Committee at Rumford Hospital provided leadership for the hospital’s successful effort to gain accreditation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Serving on the committee were the following: from left, Robin Gilbert, emergency department and cardiac rehabilitation manager, Pathway to Excellence coordinator; Kim Akers, R.N., ambulatory surgery; Rumford Hospital Director of Nursing Jane Aube; Brenda Duguay, R.N., intensive care unit (ICU); Janice Durland, R.N., ICU; Dale Gaudreau, R.N., clinical coordinator, medical-surgical nursing; Barbara MacGregor, R.N., diabetes education and wound clinic; and Betty Palmer, R.N., emergency department and cardiac rehabilitation.
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