The WMed Clinics have been granted re-accreditation by the Joint Commission and re-certification as a Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH). The important milestone follows an unannounced visit in August by three surveyors from the Joint Commission.
The Joint Commission is an independent organization that evaluates more than 18,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the U.S. It is the oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. To earn or maintain the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval, an organization must undergo an on-site survey at least every three years. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. The WMed Clinics have been accredited since 2003.
As part of the re-accreditation process, the WMed Clinics underwent a rigorous onsite survey in August. During the review, a team of Joint Commission surveyors with expertise in ambulatory healthcare evaluated compliance with ambulatory care standards related to a variety of areas, including coordination of care, monitoring for procedures that involve use of sedation or anesthesia, infection prevention and control, management of medications, and patient education and training.
Established in 1975, The Joint Commission’s Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation Program encourages high-quality patient care in all types of freestanding ambulatory care facilities.
Meanwhile, PCMH Certification is a special add-on option for Joint Commission-accredited ambulatory healthcare organizations. The Joint Commission’s PCMH Certification, awarded for a three-year period, encourages accredited ambulatory care organizations to ensure patients receive timely and appropriate treatment. WMed’s commitment to PCMH Certification ensures the organization is focused on increasing patient satisfaction, improving patient outcomes, and reducing overall costs to the health care system.
"We are pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” said Michele Serbenski, WMed’s associate dean for Planning and Performance Excellence. “Our clinic teams continue to work together to improve our processes so that we deliver excellent patient- and family-focused care to all that we serve in our community.”