(West Chester, PA) - Chester County Hospital in West Chester, PA has again earned six Gold Seals of Approval for healthcare quality. The Joint Commission awarded Chester County Hospital Disease-Specific Care Certification for stroke, heart failure, acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), hip replacement, knee replacement and wound care.
To earn this distinction, a disease management program undergoes an extensive, unannounced, on-site evaluation by a team of Joint Commission reviewers every two years. The program is evaluated against Joint Commission standards through an assessment of a program's processes, the program's ability to evaluate and improve care within its own organization, and interviews with patients and staff.
"This certification means Chester County Hospital does the right things and does them well for patients needing care for these six specialties," says Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission.
"Chester County Hospital voluntarily pursued this comprehensive, independent evaluation to enhance the safety and quality of care we provide," says H.L. Perry Pepper, President and CEO of the Hospital. "We're proud to achieve the re-certifications." The Hospital first earned the six certifications in 2008.
The Joint Commission launched its Disease-Specific Care Certification program in 2002. It is the first program of its kind in the country to certify disease management programs. A list of programs certified by the Joint Commission is available at www.jointcommission.org.
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About Chester County Hospital
For almost 125 years, Chester County Hospital has been dedicated to the health and well-being of the people in Chester County, PA and surrounding areas of the western Philadelphia suburbs. Founded in 1892 as the county’s first hospital, the non-profit has grown into a 248-bed acute-care inpatient facility in West Chester, PA. It also has outpatient services in Exton, PA; West Goshen, PA; New Garden, PA; West Grove, PA; Jennersville, PA and Kennett Square, PA. In 2013, Chester County Hospital became part of Penn Medicine, which is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to medical education, biomedical research and excellent patient care. In addition to quality-driven medical and surgical services, Chester County Hospital also offers home health, inpatient hospice and skilled nursing care; occupational medicine; outpatient laboratory, radiology and physical therapy services; wound care; cardiopulmonary rehab; and a prenatal clinic for the underserved.
About the Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of healthcare accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in healthcare organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits nearly 15,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800 other healthcare organizations that provide long-term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. In addition, the Joint Commission provides certification of disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and healthcare staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare.
Related Information from Chester County Hospital: