ECMCC Awarded Hospital Accreditation from the Joint Commision
Outcome reflects ECMCC’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care
Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMCC) today announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for its full Hospital Accreditation for a three-year period 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 patient care.
ECMC underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite survey in late July. 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 has accredited hospitals for more than 60 years. More than 4,000 general, children’s, long-term acute, psychiatric, rehabilitation and specialty hospitals currently maintain accreditation from The Joint Commission, awarded for a three-year period. In addition, approximately 360 critical access hospitals maintain accreditation through a separate program.
ECMCC Chair Sharon L. Hanson said, “The Board of Directors at ECMC always has quality care and safety as it’s number one priority, and this accreditation demonstrates that the leadership team and all of its physicians, nurses, and staff assures the very best care every day, one patient at a time. ECMC is the community’s hospital, and the community should be comforted that their Adult Trauma Center is among the best in the nation.”
ECMCC President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D., said, “Joint Commission accreditation is known throughout the country as the national standard of excellence. This accreditation affirms the quality of care at Western New York’s only Adult Trauma Center. I commend the entire ECMC family for their incredible dedication and commitment, ensuring that our patients receive the highest quality care and their families and loved ones are treated with dignity and respect to help ensure that ECMC continues as the region’s hospital of choice.
The Joint Commission Chief Operating Officer, Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations, Mark G. Pelletier, RN, MS, said, “Joint Commission accreditation provides hospitals with the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas from the enhancement of staff education to the improvement of daily business operations. In addition, our accreditation helps hospitals enhance their risk management and risk reduction strategies. We commend Erie County Medical Center for its efforts to become a quality improvement organization.”
The Joint Commission’s hospital standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help hospitals measure, assess and improve performance.
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.