Columbia Memorial Health Receives $5 Million Grant
Columbia Memorial Health (CMH) has received a $5 million grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s Nursing Initiative program to support nursing excellence and innovation and enhance patient care. CMH was one of 13 hospitals selected to represent a diversity of sizes and geographies out of 50 that applied statewide. The total commitment from the foundation to New York hospitals totals $51 million.
Funding will be awarded over five years and allows CMH to pursue Magnet recognition or Pathway to Excellence status from the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC). These prestigious designations recognize the critical, collaborative role nurses hold in providing and transforming care. Magnet-recognized organizations are known for providing high-quality patient care, resulting in better patient outcomes, lower error rates, and fewer health care-acquired infections. The grant will also support the growth of CMH’s nurse residency program. Established in 2023, the nurse residency program is designed to help new nursing graduates transition smoothly into professional practice. Participants receive structured learning experiences that combine classroom instruction with clinical practice. They also benefit from mentorship and support from experienced nurses, which helps new nurses build confidence and reduce stress.
“This generous support from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a testament to the care Columbia Memorial Health is known for,” said Columbia Memorial Health President and CEO Dorothy Urschel. “Magnet designation is the highest honor a hospital can receive for nursing excellence and reinforces our longtime commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care to the communities we serve.”
The Nursing Initiative grant program is a first-of-its-kind investment from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. It stems from the foundation’s ongoing commitment to bolster the health care workforce across New York State. The program will help hospitals achieve industry-leading frameworks in nursing excellence, establish innovative programs to support front-line nurses, and help recent nurse graduates transition into the profession.
“We are honored to have been selected as a grantee by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation,” said Stephanie Hisgen, DNP, chief nursing officer at CMH. “This generous grant will support and strengthen our nursing workforce for years to come, ensuring the care patients receive in our hospital and outpatient centers is of the highest quality.”
“From Binghamton to the Bronx, New York nurses are the backbone of patient care, demonstrating dedication and resilience. Our Nursing Initiative is designed to provide the resources needed to ensure they can thrive and deliver the highest quality of care,” said Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, chief executive officer, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. “By supporting nurses, we are investing in better patient care and outcomes.”
“The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s bold philanthropic investment will play a vital role in recruiting and retaining nurses, while fostering the supportive environments they need to thrive,” said Angela Beddoe, chief executive officer of American Nurses Enterprise. “We are proud to be a partner in this transformative effort to help New York hospitals pursue their accreditation journey. When nurses are empowered to lead and deliver care at the highest level, patients benefit—and entire communities are healthier for it.”
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation developed the Nursing Initiative following the findings of a health care workforce report by the Center for Health Workforce Studies in Albany. The report found major factors that contribute to persistent RN shortages including challenges with new RN preparedness, unsupportive work environments, workplace violence, burnout, the experience gap created by retirement of older nurses. and generational differences in career expectations that impact nurse tenure at hospitals. In addition, according to data referenced in the report, 15 percent of hospital patient care RNs between the ages of 20 and 39 reported plans to leave their current position within the next 12 months, underscoring the urgency of addressing these challenges.