NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter Receives Top Honors as the Nation’s First and Only Long-Term Care Facility to Earn Pathway To Excellence with Distinction Designation
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Pathway with Distinction designation recognizes the highest performing Pathway organizations around the world and is based on validation from the workforce In a survey of 350 nursing professionals at Carter, 96% of respondents confirmed that the organization promotes a culture of excellence in person-centered care and creates a positive practice environment
Aug 11, 2025
NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter announced today that it is the first and only long-term care facility in the nation, and one of two healthcare organizations in New York, to receive the Pathway to Excellence with Distinction designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This global designation recognizes the highest performing Pathway organizations around the world and is based on validation from the nursing workforce. In a survey of 350 nursing professionals at Carter, 96% of respondents confirmed that the organization promotes a culture of excellence in person-centered care and creates a positive practice environment.
“I’m thrilled to receive the news that Carter earned The Pathway to Excellence designation. The proudness was amplified when the ANCC announcement included our designation with ‘Distinction.’ This designation confirms that Carter’s Nursing team is committed to the six standards of pathway to excellence. Being the first post-acute care facility in the nation to earn Pathway to Excellence with Distinction, validates Carter’s ongoing commitment of excellence in the provision of quality care and the overall positive patients experience,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter Chief Executive Officer Floyd R. Long, LNHA, MBA. “I want to commend our Carter Nursing Leadership and Nursing team who continue to deliver high quality care, embrace the ICARE model and foster a culture of patient safety. I also want to acknowledge our health system’s executive nursing leadership, and post-acute care nursing for guiding Carter through this Journey.”
“The prestigious Pathway to Excellence with Distinction credential recognizes that Carter exceeds ANCC standards by creating a culture of sustained nursing excellence where a commitment to patient-centered care is deeply ingrained at all levels; where staff is respected and given a voice in decision-making, and where workforce well-being is valued and prioritized,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive Natalia Cineas, DNP, MSM-N, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FADLN. “This esteemed designation also recognizes Carter as a facility that provides responsive and exemplary patient care to the patients, families and communities it serves. This impressive accomplishment is a testament to the sustained pursuit of a positive practice environment at Carter, where our nurses go above and beyond in continually striving for nursing excellence.”
“It is an honor to be the first long-term care facility to achieve Pathway to Excellence designation with Distinction. It is a testament of the hard work of each and every one and the commitment in sustaining excellence in our work environment here at Carter,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter Director of Nursing Meriam Pineda, BSN, RN.
The Pathway to Excellence designation is a rigorous, evidence-based evaluation across six standards:
- Shared Decision Making – The organization has an established shared governance structure as the foundation for involving direct care nurses in decision-making.
- Leadership – Leadership fosters the foundation of collaboration among staff and supports a shared governance environment.
- Safety – The organization protects the safety and well-being of nurses, staff, and patients through safety policies and processes.
- Quality – Organization-wide quality initiatives are evidence-based, focused on improving patient outcomes, developed through interprofessional collaboration, and implemented based on internal and external benchmarking.
- Well-Being – Staff have the opportunity to develop a balance between work and personal life. Achievements for community service, patient advocacy, and contributions to improving population health are encouraged, supported, and recognized by the organization.
- Professional Development – The organization recognized the importance of solid onboarding, transition programs beyond orientation, and continued professional development that supports lifelong learning in the delivery of safe and effective patient care.
Upon initial submission, Carter’s application was referred to as a “perfect document” earning ANCC approval on its first review.
“Excellence is not a destination, but a continuous journey of dedication, passion and commitment of the nursing staff. Achieving distinction is not merely about the result, but the unwavering pursuit of exceeding the Pathway’s essential elements of shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being, and professional development,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care Chief Nursing Officer Marian McNamara, RN, MSN. “These standards truly define the path of greatness. To say I am extremely proud of this team is an understatement. When you walk through the hallways of the Carter facility, the Pathway to Excellence with distinction honor is represented with each nurse and resident encounter.”
“Carter’s Pathway Designation with Distinction reflects our commitment to providing high-quality care and a culture where positive work environments flourish, demonstrated in our Pathway documents. This remarkable achievement underscores our staff’s hard work and dedication, striving to achieve shared goals and improve patient care outcomes day in and day out,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter Deputy Director of Nursing and Pathway Program Director Caroline Araullo, MSN-NE, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC. “Together, we aim to embody the principles of the Pathway framework, ensuring every team member feels valued and empowered. We look forward to continuing this journey as we work toward maintaining nursing excellence and living the Pathway Standards.”
The Pathway assessment concluded that Carter establishes effective communication, promotes Just Culture, creates shared decision-making opportunities, provides leadership support, and succession planning to build competence and prepare future leaders. Nursing leadership offers professional development opportunities, promoting participation in role-enhancing activities through continuing education for advanced degrees, flexible scheduling for projects and Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives, tuition reimbursement, attending professional conferences, and numerous leadership development activities.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Rafael Dominguez, NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care, 646-694-4910
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter
The Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility at 1752 Park Avenue and 122nd Street in Manhattan features 365 beds for two distinct types of healthcare services: long-term acute care and skilled nursing care. Carter’s 201-bed Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) is the only one in New York City and serves medically complex patients, many of whom require ventilator support. Carter’s 164-bed Skilled Nursing Facility serves residents whose medical needs require management and care that cannot be provided at home. The facility features technologically advanced support equipment and highly qualified on-site staff who are available 24/7. Carter is ranked #5 in Newsweek’s Best Nursing Homes in New York 2025 and received high-performance ratings in long-term care and short-term rehabilitation from U.S. News and World Report’s Best Nursing Homes 2025. To learn more about NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter or to schedule an appointment/tour, please call (646) 686-0000 or visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/carter.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation, serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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 www.nursingworld.org/ANCC.
