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| Media Contacts Mary Jo Wich Lois Kendall 314-525-4005 |
Release Date: 1/7/2009
Quality of programs earn praise in Joint Commission visit
“I saw phenomenal individualized, aggressive and dynamic care for a very large service area.”
“I surveyed your hospital and urgent care areas. Your staff does a great job of representing your organization.”
These were two of the comments made by surveyors from The Joint Commission following a surprise inspection of St. Anthony’s inpatient and outpatient services, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health program, urgent care centers, and the home care/hospice programs beginning Monday, Nov. 10.
While the six surveyors presented 11 requirements for improvement (RFIs) in their final report, they were impressed overall with St. Anthony’s employees and their dedication and patient care. They commented that the relatively low number of RFIs put St. Anthony’s into the top quartile of hospitals nationwide.
“I surveyed your home care/home health program,” said one surveyor, a registered nurse. “You have very dedicated people, wonderful service that is very well integrated.”
Tom Rockers, St. Anthony’s President and CEO, praised employees for all their efforts in preparing for the survey. “This is fantastic,” Rockers told employees at the meeting. “You should feel really good about it.”
An independent agency, The Joint Commission is the nation’s predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. It maintains state-of-the-art standards that focus on improving the quality and safety of care provided by health care organizations. To earn and maintain the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval, as has St. Anthony’s, an organization must undergo an on-site survey by a Joint Commission survey team at least every three years.
The physician surveyor told senior leaders at an exit conference Nov. 14 that staff members represented themselves and the hospital well. They took an ownership approach to their departments, showed a commitment to safety and quality care, and made efforts to improve their department in the best manner possible.
A survey team from The Joint Commission is scheduled to visit again anywhere from 18 to 39 months after the last survey date. Although the earliest they may arrive is June 2010, they likely will visit in 2011.
For information, please call our Health Access Line at 314-ANTHONY (268-4669) or 800-554-9550 or visit our find a physician online.
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