October 16, 2025 – HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital are honored to announce both hospitals join a premier group of healthcare facilities that have received Pathway to Excellence® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
The Pathway to Excellence® designation is a global credential that highlights HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital’s commitment to creating a healthy work environment where colleagues feel empowered and valued.
“This achievement is especially meaningful because it was driven by our nurses’ voices. Nearly 500 nurses participated in the Pathway survey, and feedback identified a team that fosters a culture of excellence, collaboration, and respect,” said HCA Florida Ocala Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Sonna Harding. “This designation is not just a milestone. It is a celebration of the heart of our hospital. It also affirms what we already know – our nurses are the backbone of our success, and their dedication makes our hospitals truly special places to work and heal.”
According to the ANCC, nurses at hospitals with a Pathway to Excellence designation are engaged, resulting in higher job satisfaction, reduced turnover, improved safety, and better patient outcomes. Nurses at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital are an integral part of the healthcare team, with a voice in policy and practice.
As a Pathway organization, these hospitals lead the effort to enhance quality of care, patient and staff safety, and the future of healthcare delivery. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital each qualified for Pathway independently.
“Pathway to Excellence recognizes what our teams practice daily: nurses who are empowered to lead, speak up, and continuously improve care,” said HCA Florida West Marion Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Sue Deleon. “This designation reflects our investment in evidence-based practice, teamwork, and the well-being of our caregivers-because when nurses flourish, patients and families do, too. I am grateful to every nurse who contributed to this achievement and to the leaders who champion shared decision-making across HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.”
For more information about the Pathway to Excellence® program, visit nursingworld.org. For more information about comprehensive healthcare services available in our area, visit hcafloridahealthcare.com.
About HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital comprise a combined 585-bed hospital system, which also includes five freestanding emergency departments: HCA Florida Foxwood ER, on U.S. 27 northwest of Ocala; HCA Florida Silver Springs ER, on East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala; HCA Florida Summerfield ER, on U.S. 441 in southern Marion County; HCA Florida Maricamp ER, on Maricamp Road in Ocala; and HCA Florida Trailwinds Village ER, in Wildwood. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is verified as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons, the highest possible designation. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is also a Comprehensive Stroke Center and is the only cancer center in Marion County approved by the Commission on Cancer. Healthgrades has ranked the system among the 250 best overall hospitals in America as well as among the 50 best hospitals in the U.S. for surgical care and vascular surgery, and among the nation’s top 100 hospitals for joint replacement, orthopedic, prostate, and spinal surgeries. The system also has been nationally recognized for excellence in patient safety, cardiac services, critical and emergency care, and neurological and rehabilitation services. The system’s outpatient facilities also encompass Family Care Specialists, a primary care network of six locations throughout Marion County, HCA Florida Ocala Imaging Center, and three surgical and physician specialty practices.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. As one of the state’s leading healthcare networks, HCA Florida Healthcare’s 11,100 experienced doctors and more than 84,000 colleagues work together to deliver equitable, evidence-based collaborative care through more than 12 million patient encounters annually. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. In 2024, the network provided more than $1 billion in uncompensated care and contributed more than $3.7 million to community organizations across the state. In addition, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to highly trained specialists, including the state’s most comprehensive cardiovascular network. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is a leader in training future healthcare professionals, offering 151 Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs at 27 different hospitals with more than 2,400 residents. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com