Inland Valley Medical Center Awarded Spine Certification by The Joint Commission
Pictured L-R: Daniel Friedlich, MD, Bret Abshire, MD, and Gerald Oh, MD
Inland Valley Medical Center, a campus of Southwest Healthcare System, has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Spinal Surgery Core Certification. The Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.
During a recent on-site review, Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards as well as three spinal-specific requirements: discectomy, laminectomy and spinal fusion. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures also were assessed.
“Spine Core Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to fostering continuous performance improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, Chief Operating Officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and Chief Nursing Executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Inland Valley Medical Center for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for patients.”
Established in 2002 and awarded for a two-year period, The Joint Commission’s disease-specific care certification evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care and addresses three core areas:
- Compliance with consensus-based national standards
- Effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care
- An organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities
“Our award-winning hospital system continues to lead the way, offering the latest advancements in technology and surgical options for patients from across the region," adds Brad Neet, CEO of Southwest Healthcare System. "Receiving the Joint Commission certification for spine surgery is a reflection of our commitment to the highest level of care.”