The Evidence Behind ANCC's Pathway to Excellence® Credential's Return on Investment.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Excellence

Background:

• Healthcare organizations face resource constraints, necessitating formal business cases for initiatives.
• A business case evaluates benefits, costs, risks, and strategic alignment.
• The Pathway to Excellence® (Pathway) designation is a recognized standard for healthcare quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing evidence supporting the development of a business case for the Pathway to Excellence® (Pathway) designation.
• To provide a framework for resource allocation decisions related to achieving Pathway designation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current evidence.
• Analysis of components typically included in a business case (benefits, costs, risks, strategic alignment).
• Examination of how these components apply to the Pathway designation.

Main Results:

• Evidence exists to support the benefits, costs, and risks associated with the Pathway designation.
• The Pathway designation demonstrates strategic alignment with organizational goals for quality improvement.
• The review synthesizes data to justify resource investment in Pathway.

Conclusions:

• A strong business case can be developed for the Pathway designation using available evidence.
• Resource allocation for Pathway designation is justifiable based on its positive impact on healthcare quality and organizational performance.