Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital (POH) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for healthcare quality for five of its joint and spine programs for the second consecutive time. These certifications recognize the hospital’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s leading-edge standards. The Joint Commission awarded POH Disease-Specific Care Certification for: 

• Hip fracture

• Hip replacement

• Knee replacement

• Laminectomy

• Spinal fusion

“In achieving Joint Commission certification, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients with joint and spine conditions and injuries,” said Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission. "Certification is a voluntary process, and I commend Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”

“With Joint Commission certification, we are making a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis,” said Mike Riley, M.H.A., R.N., president of POH. “Disease-specific certification provides a framework to take our care to the next level and helps create a culture of excellence. We are proud to achieve this distinction for five of our joint and spine programs for the second straight time.” 

POH first achieved Disease-Specific Care Certification in these areas in 2010. The region’s only orthopaedic hospital, POH is also ranked in the top 5 percent in the country for surgical care measures.

The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification Program, launched in 2002, is designed to evaluate clinical programs across the continuum of care. Certification requirements address three core areas: compliance with consensus-based national standards; effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating healthcare organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,500 other healthcare organizations that provide long term care, behavioral healthcare, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission currently certifies more than 2,000 disease-specific care programs, focused on the care of patients with chronic illnesses such as stroke, joint replacement, stroke rehabilitation, heart failure and many others. The Joint Commission also provides healthcare staffing services certification for more than 750 staffing offices. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. Learn more about The Joint Commission here.