By demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization's national standards for health care quality and safety, Jackson County Memorial Hospital has earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval.

Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation's health care through voluntary accreditation. The Joint Commission's on-site survey of Jackson County Memorial Hospital occurred in June.

"Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization's performance and the outcomes of care," says Darlene Christiansen, executive director, Hospital Accreditation Program, Joint Commission. "The community should be proud that Jackson County Memorial Hospital is focusing on the most challenging goal -- to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels."

Bill Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at JCMH spoke of his pride in a staff whose members ask what needs to be done to be accredited by the Joint Commission. "In addition, they appreciate the educational aspect of the survey and the opportunity to interact with the team of surveyors." He called the accreditation, "proof of an organization-wide commitment to provide quality care on an ongoing basis."

Both Jackson County Memorial Hospital and the JCMH Home Care and Hospice Services received full accreditation. The survey took place on-site at Jackson County Memorial Hospital and at JCMH Home Care and Hospice June 6 through 9. Diana Meier, RN, Director of Performance Improvement and Accreditation at JCMH and Michelle Ford, Vice President of Outreach services, provided leadership to hospital staff throughout the survey process. Stated Meier, " The success of our survey was not a one or two person job, it was a team effort, the outcome of a lot of work and dedication by our staff and managers. JCMH adopted a policy of being in continuous survey readiness several years ago. This means that everyone must maintain an awareness of new standards and strive to be in compliance every day, so that we are literally ready for a survey at any time. It gives our staff the opportunity to prove that they give 'Our Best for You' to every patient, every day."

The Joint Commision on Accreditation of Healthcre Organizations accreditation is in effect for three years