CPRMC awarded Joint Commission’s certification for Heart Failure
Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (CPRMC) recently earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Heart Failure Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with the accrediting body’s high-performance standards. Pictured here: Dr. Jon Dubose, Medical Director Hospitalist, Susan Wayne, Quality Coordinator and Dr. Mark Stellingworth, Chief of Staff and Cardiologist. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (CPRMC) recently earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Heart Failure Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with the accrediting body’s high-performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
The certification recognizes healthcare organizations that provide clinical programs across the continuum of care for heart failure. The certification evaluates how organizations use clinical outcomes and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve care, as well as to educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge.
“Attaining this certification is an honor for the hospital and a validation of the hard work put in by our dedicated team members to build a more effective program around heart failure,” said Dr. Mark Stellingworth, the cardiologist at CPRMC who led the certification effort. “Our efforts are already making an impact on how we treat and educate heart failure patients.”
Stellingworth and Carolina Pines began developing the heart failure program one year ago, researching best clinical practices and adopting the guidelines for managing heart failure recently published by the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and the Heart Failure Society of America. The team examined all stages of managing a heart failure patient, including diagnosis, inpatient care, discharge, and follow-up care.
“We reviewed and implemented guidelines, tracked and analyzed patient data, and used the information to drive process improvements throughout the course of treating a heart failure patient,” noted Dr. Stellingworth. “Ultimately, we discovered that there was a need for more education for both our patients and our community, so we devised a program that not only includes one-on-one education sessions with patients, but several community awareness events.”
On June 30 of this year, CPRMC underwent a rigorous, onsite review. During the visit, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including goal-directed medical therapy, patient education, community awareness, program management, supporting self-management, and delivering and facilitating clinical care. The reviewer also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“The Joint Commission’s Heart Failure Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Deborah Ryan, MS, RN, interim executive vice president, Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission. “We commend Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for Heart Failure patients.”
For more information on partnering with CPRMC to bring heart failure awareness to your organization or community, email Susan.Wayne@cprmc.com.