ECMC Awarded Hospital National Accreditation
Achieves three-year accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s performance standards
BUFFALO, NEW YORK— Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation today announced it has earned its full hospital accreditation – The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® Accreditation – by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. This accreditation surveys many clinical areas from behavioral health and ambulatory services to surgical services, inpatient care, and many others. It is a complete assessment of ECMC services and quality of care.
ECMCC Chair Jennifer C. Persico, Esq. said, “On behalf of the ECMC Corporation Board of Directors, I thank the Joint Commission for this important accreditation that underscores ECMC’s strong adherence to rigorous national standards for the delivery of quality healthcare services. As important, I congratulate ECMC’s leadership team and all of the physicians, nurses, and staff who every day ensure the very best care for our community. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of our frontline caregivers, ECMC continues to evolve and grow, building on its strong legacy of clinical excellence. Surveys conducted by national entities like the Joint Commission, that lead to full hospital accreditation, is further evidence of the fulfillment of our mission – to provide every patient the highest quality of care delivered with compassion.”
ECMCC President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D., said, “Receiving the Joint Commission’s three-year accreditation is a significant accomplishment, which reflects ECMC’s overall exceptional quality of care. Throughout our nation’s network of healthcare institutions, Joint Commission accreditation is universally regarded as the national standard of excellence. The surveyors highlighted the inclusive, collaborative culture at ECMC and the kindness of our caregivers, while also stating on many occasions how we had very few findings for an organization as large and complex as ECMC. Coming in the wake of two challenging years due to the pandemic, it is especially gratifying and reassuring that our ECMC Family’s continuing efforts to care for the residents of our region receives this national third party recognition and affirmation.”
The Joint Commission Interim Executive Vice President, Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations, Deborah Ryan, MS, RN, said, “As a health care accreditor, The Joint Commission works with health care organizations across settings to help improve patient safety and quality of care through our expert resources and tools, innovative solutions and rigorous standards. We commend ECMC for its commitment to advance safety and quality for all patients.”
ECMC underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite survey in November. During the review, a team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated compliance with hospital standards related to several areas, including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, and medication management. Surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help healthcare organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
The Joint Commission: Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.
ABOUT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (ECMC) CORPORATION: The ECMC Corporation was established as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has included an advanced academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility. ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo. Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan. More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences—the difference between healthcare and true care™.