Atrium Health Navicent Peach Chief Nursing Officer Jill Hancock Receives National Award

Jill Hancock, chief nursing officer at Atrium Health Navicent Peach, has been nationally recognized with the Pathway Nurse of the Year Nurse Leader Award by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

The award honors exceptional nurse leaders from Pathway to Excellence-designated health systems worldwide, and recognizes individuals who exemplify professionalism, leadership and collaboration with their teams.

“Jill is the epitome of a transformational leader, not just to her direct reports, but to other leaders and departments throughout Atrium Health Navicent Peach,” said Atrium Health Navicent Chief Nurse Tracey Blalock. “She is one of the most creative problem solvers, and she supports the efforts of our teammates daily. Jill’s undeniable care and consideration for her team and their community make her the unequivocal best choice for this award.”

Under Hancock’s leadership, Atrium Health Navicent Peach achieved Pathway to Excellence designation from ANCC in March 2024. To achieve the Pathway to Excellence designation, Atrium Health Navicent Peach met the ANCC’s six overarching standards that form the framework of a healthy work environment: shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being and professional development. Atrium Health Navicent Peach is one of 10 Pathway to Excellence designated hospitals in Georgia and one of 231 in the nation.

Hancock’s leadership extends to a focus on quality and safety. Under her guidance, Atrium Health Navicent Peach was awarded the Atrium Health Silver Touchstone Award for Sustaining the Elimination of Device-Associated Infections, with the hospital maintaining zero catheter-associated urinary tract infection and central line-associated bloodstream infection cases for over three years. Her commitment to patient care also has resulted in steadily climbing scores for Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems.Hancock is equally dedicated to her team’s well-being. In 2022, she applied for and received a grant from the Navicent Health Foundation to create a snack cart that boosted morale among her staff. She recently secured another grant to establish a Zen Den, providing her team with a dedicated space for relaxation and stress relief. Atrium Health Navicent Peach is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States which includes 12 ANCC Magnet-designated hospitals and three Pathway to Excellence-designated hospitals. Magnet designation recognizes a hospital’s commitment to excellence in nursing leadership, professional development, community impact, professional practice, quality patient care and innovation. Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center is a four-time Magnet recipient. Atrium Health Navicent Peach was the first in Advocate Health to receive the Pathway to Excellence designation.

Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.