Parkland Health Wins 2024 ANCC Pathway Award® Sponsored by Press Ganey
MEDIA CONTACT: Newsroom@ana.org
(October 30, 2024, SILVER SPRING, MD) —The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) announced today that Parkland Health in Dallas received the 2024 ANCC Pathway Award®. The award, sponsored by Press Ganey, was presented at the 2024 ANCC National Magnet Conference® and ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference® in New Orleans. It recognizes an ANCC Pathway to Excellence® organization for its advancements in a program that promotes innovative thinking in the practice setting.
Parkland Health will use the $100,000 award to develop its winning project, the CROWN Project, to steward hospital resources and utilize community businesses to address health equity, meeting holistic care needs of hospitalized patients with textured hair.
The CROWN Project offers a sustainable solution to hair care inequity in a county hospital system, providing a holistic approach to patient wellbeing and quality of care. To do so, the project will offer evidence-based specialized hair care products to over 12,000 patients annually in a predominantly Black patient population whose hair care needs during hospitalization have historically been ignored. The project seeks to address patient care disparities by developing and distributing hair care kits, products, and hair and scalp treatments for patients with textured hair who have been hospitalized for more than five days.
"On behalf of our dedicated team at Parkland, I am proud to accept the 2024 ANCC Pathway Award for the CROWN Project," said Donna Richardson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Parkland. "This project is not just about hair care; it embodies our commitment to health equity and recognizes the integral role nurses play in promoting the dignity and self-esteem of our patients."
Parkland Health plans to pilot the project to then replicate for an adult underserved patient population, provide nurse training, and create a toolkit to support its continued replication in other hospitals.
"Congratulations to Parkland Health on receiving the 2024 ANCC Pathway Award!" said Jeff Doucette, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer at Press Ganey. "This is a well-earned recognition of Parkland's empathetic approach to patient care. Press Ganey is proud to sponsor this award and celebrate initiatives like the CROWN Project, which provides real comfort in the form of hair care for historically underserved patients. Identifying a blind spot in the care continuum and addressing it with compassion is an excellent example of the power of nurse-led innovation. We look forward to seeing this project replicated in hospitals across the country. Great job, Parkland Health!"
"Parkland Health understands the imperative need for equitable care, addressing the needs of underserved populations with understanding, care, and compassion," said Rebecca Graystone, PhD, MBA, RN, NE-BC, ANCC Senior Vice President of Accreditation and Organization Credentialing. "The CROWN Project understands the honorable duty that is to service patients' needs and to embrace the whole person. We are excited to see what inspiring impacts this project has in their Dallas community and beyond."
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About the American Nurses Credentialing Center
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes health care organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits health care organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. For more information about ANCC, visit us at nursingworld.org/ANCC and follow us on X. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification.
About the Pathway to Excellence® Program
The Pathway to Excellence® Program recognizes health care and long-term care organizations for positive practice environments where nurses excel. To qualify, organizations meet Pathway Standards essential to an ideal nursing practice environment. Nurses trust that Pathway-designated organizations respect their contributions, support professional development, and nurture optimal work settings.