Olympic Medical Center earns ‘Gold Seal’ 3-year re-accreditation

Published 12:01 am Sunday, December 18, 2011

PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center has earned three-year re-accreditation with The Joint Commission, an independent nonprofit that has accredited the hospital since December 1996.

The hospital received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the independent nonprofit’s national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals.

“Olympic Medical Center makes significant investments in quality on a day-to-day basis, and Joint Commission accreditation highlights these efforts,” said Eric Lewis, chief executive officer of the hospital.

“Continuing as a Joint Commission-accredited organization is always a top priority, and our employees do an outstanding job of working to ensure the medical center meets and exceeds standards.”

Survey in August

OMC underwent an unannounced on-site survey in August in which a team evaluated the hospital and its physician and home health divisions for compliance with standards of care, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

Accreditation is voluntary with The Joint Commission, founded in 1951 and based in Illinois, which evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.

OMC pays a fee for the oversight, said Betsi Thompson, manager of quality support services for the hospital.

“Accreditation helps us make sure we are doing the best medical practice out there and are in compliance with Medicare,” she said.

“They give us a lot of resources.”

A division of OMC has added to the national organization’s resources.

A guide developed by Olympic Medical Home Health has become part of The Joint Commission’s Leading Practice Library.

During the on-site inspection, surveyors recommended that the self-management guide, “Enhanced Congestive Heart Failure,” be added to the library.

After clinical review, it was accepted by Joint Commission members as a leading practice that will be of value to other organizations.

The self-management tool is a color-coded guide for home health patients to help them manage and monitor their chronic heart failure symptoms in partnership with home health nurses.

“It is the neatest thing,” Thompson said.

“The surveyors were excited about it.

“Olympic Medical Home Health did a great job, so we are very proud of them.”

“In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, Olympic Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients,” said Mark Pelletier, executive director of hospital programs, accreditation and certification services for The Joint Commission.

80 beds

OMC provides inpatient services at its 80-bed acute-care facility in Port Angeles.

Outpatient services include cardiac, imaging, physical therapy and rehabilitation, laboratory, surgical services, home health, physician clinics and comprehensive regional cancer care at locations in Port Angeles and Sequim.