ECMCC Awarded Opioid Treatment Accreditation From Joint Commission
Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMCC) has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Opioid Treatment Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective care.
ECMCC President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche, Jr., Ph.D. said, “ECMCC is pleased to receive Opioid Treatment Accreditation from the Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation. The opioid crisis that has affected every community across the country, including Western New York, has had a profound impact on health care institutions such as ECMC and we are grateful to our caregivers for their continued effort to help everyone that seeks our care. This accreditation is another testament to the high quality of care and the superb professionalism of our excellent caregivers who exemplify true care for the patients who come to us. Critically important state legislation signed recently by Governor Cuomo will help us further in our fight against heroin and opioid addiction.”
Tracy Griffin Collander, LCSW, Executive Director, Joint Commission Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program said, “Joint Commission accreditation provides behavioral health care organizations with the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas related to the care of individuals and their families. We commend ECMC for its efforts to elevate the standard of care it provides and to instill confidence in the community it serves.
Michael R. Cummings, MD, ECMC Associate Medical Director, Behavioral Health Services said, “ECMC has been in the forefront of innovative and groundbreaking behavioral health treatment protocols that have solidified our position in this critically important area of healthcare. Receiving the Opioid Treatment Accreditation from the Joint Commission is further confirmation of the success and progress we have made and continue to make in providing behavioral health services on-campus at ECMC and throughout Western New York.”
ECMCC underwent a rigorous on-site survey in March 2016. During the review, compliance with behavioral health care standards related to several areas, including: care, treatment, and services; environment of care; leadership; and screening procedures for the early detection of imminent harm was evaluated. On-site observations and interviews also were conducted.
Established in 1969, The Joint Commission’s Behavioral Health Care Accreditation program currently accredits more than 2,250 organizations for a three-year period. Accredited organizations provide treatment and services within a variety of settings across the care continuum for individuals who have mental health, addiction, eating disorder, intellectual/developmental disability, and/or child-welfare related needs. Accreditation is customarily valid for up to thirty-six months.
The Joint Commission’s behavioral health care standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, quality improvement measurement experts, and individuals and their families. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.