When it comes to patient safety and quality care, there is always room for further improvement. And healthcare organizations that strive to deliver the very best care are willing to adhere to high standards and welcome third-party, onsite evaluations to assure they meet or exceed these standards.
St. Francis Hospice recently earned a Gold Seal of Approval, receiving accreditation for another three years from The Joint Commission. St. Francis Hospice has been accredited since 1991 and is the first hospice program in Hawaii to be accredited.
The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Nationwide, The Joint Commission’s accreditation and certification are recognized as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.
The Joint Commission’s mission is to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.
They encourage families who are considering hospice programs to ask: “Is your hospice program accredited?” St. Francis Hospice is able to confidently answer “yes” after receiving positive news from The Joint Commission surveyors in early May 2016.
St. Francis Hospice looks at critical patient safety and overall quality issues including staff competency, medication management, infection control, and patient education. The onsite evaluation is a collaborative learning process in which experienced surveyors share best practices and insights to help address challenging issues and identify risks as well as high-performing areas.
Accreditation does not mean that healthcare organizations can rest on their laurels. The Joint Commission will make ongoing, periodic post-surveys.
Mahalo to our hospice team for delivering quality care for Hawaii’s hospice patients and their families!