Tanner Health nurses and leaders pose for a photo following the announcement from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) that Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton had received the Pathway to Excellence designation.
Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton has officially achieved the Pathway to Excellence® designation, a national honor that celebrates the strength, dedication and heart of its nursing team.
The designation is awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the world’s largest and most respected nursing credentialing organization. The Pathway to Excellence program recognizes healthcare organizations that create positive practice environments where nurses excel. To earn the credential, hospitals must meet strict standards across six key areas: shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being and professional development.
“Receiving the Pathway to Excellence designation is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in patient care at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner Health. “We’re excited to be recognized for our efforts, and we look forward to pursuing the same designation for two more facilities — Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica and Willowbrooke at Tanner — as we continue to redefine care for the communities we serve.”
Staff members were informed of the news during a special call on Monday, Aug. 18, and celebrated with party favors and photo ops. The process of receiving the Pathway to Excellence designation took an entire year for the hospital to complete and involved submitting an application, providing supporting documents and preparing nurses for a survey about the essential elements of a positive work environment.
“The Pathway to Excellence designation affirms Tanner Health’s steadfast commitment to cultivating a workplace defined by respect, shared decision-making and professional growth,” said Terry Stephens, vice president of inpatient nursing and assistant chief nursing executive. “This achievement is the result of every nurse who serves with purpose, every leader who champions their team and every colleague who contributes to an environment where patients feel valued and supported. As we celebrate this recognition, we remain focused on advancing our culture of excellence and strengthening the impact we make across the communities we serve.”
With this designation, Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton joins a select group of organizations recognized nationally for nursing excellence, reinforcing its mission to improve the health of the communities it serves.
“This milestone has been a true journey, led with vision and determination by Ariel Gibbs, our director of professional practice, and her exceptional team of special projects coordinators, Kerrie Harmon and Autumn Cherry,” said Misty Watts, executive director of centralized resources and assistant chief nursing executive. “Their leadership, combined with the unwavering support of our nursing leadership and executive vice presidents, laid the foundation for success. This achievement belongs to our nurse managers and frontline staff. Through their hard work, resilience and daily commitment to providing outstanding care, they turned what was once a dream into reality.”
“The Pathway to Excellence designation is more than a recognition — it is proof of the culture we have built together,” said Watts. She went on to emphasize how this achievement highlights the strength of Tanner’s nursing community and its lasting impact on patient care. “It reflects an environment where nurses are empowered, supported and celebrated and where patient care always comes first. We could not be prouder of this accomplishment and the team who made it possible.”
Tanner will be officially recognized alongside other honorees at the Magnet & Pathway Conference 2025 on Oct. 8 in Atlanta, Georgia.
