Published on October 26, 2005

Methodist Awarded Four Joint Commission Certifications

10/26/05

Methodist Medical Center is proud to have received four Disease Specific Certifications from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the nation's gold seal of approval for healthcare. The four certifications cover pneumonia, knee and hip replacement, stroke, and heart failure.

Methodist is the first hospital in Illinois (and one of only two in the nation) to be certified by the Joint Commission for pneumonia care. The certification was achieved for outstanding pneumonia care that meets the highest national standards. Certification also recognizes that Methodist quickly identifies and treats patients who have symptoms of pneumonia and helps prevent pneumonia through vaccination and patient education.

Methodist is also the first hospital in Illinois to receive certification for knee and hip replacement. Methodist ensures outstanding orthopedic care by meeting the highest national standards, collaborating with the area's best orthopedic physicians and helping speed recovery with quality rehabilitation services.

As the first downstate hospital in Illinois to receive JCAHO certification for heart failure care, Methodist meets or exceeds objective state-of-the-art measures for performance. Methodist quickly identifies and treats patients who have symptoms of heart failure while helping patients avoid hospitalization through patient education and follow-up outpatient care.

Certification was also awarded to Methodist as a Primary Stroke Center. The Methodist stroke team provides outstanding stroke care by meeting the highest national standards, quickly identifying and treating stroke patients to minimize damage, and helping speed recovery with quality rehabilitation services. The Methodist stroke team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Methodist President and CEO Michael Bryant said, "Joint Commission certification is part of our continuing commitment to delivering outstanding healthcare. We are continually benchmarking ourselves against the best hospitals in the country and this is another objective measure of our performance excellence."

The Joint Commission Disease Specific Care Certification Program was developed in collaboration with disease management experts, chronic care providers, professional associates, opinion leaders and consumers nationwide. Achievement of Disease Specific Certification signifies that Methodist has all the critical elements of long-term success in improving outcomes and is recognized as the best assurance that quality care is appropriately managed.

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