MUMC Hip and Knee Programs Recognized by the Joint Commission

Savannah, GA, March 11, 2013 --(PR.com)-- The hip replacement and the knee replacement programs at Memorial University Medical Center (MUMC) have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for healthcare quality and safety in disease-specific care. These certifications recognize both of MUMC’s programs for continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the- art standards.

“When you decide to have a major joint replacement surgery, such as hip or knee replacement, you need to know that you’ll have a good outcome. You can trust a program that has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval,” said R. Dow Hoffman, M.D., orthopedic surgeon.

MUMC participated in a rigorous on-site review in January. A Joint Commission expert evaluated each program for compliance with specific standards of care for patients and families, infection prevention and control, leadership, and medication management.

“These certifications are not based on a few recent outcomes. The Joint Commission reviews months and years of patient data to ensure that we consistently meet high standards for every single patient. That’s why we are particularly proud of these accolades,” said James F. Holtzclaw, M.D., orthopedic surgeon.

The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification Program, launched in 2002, evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care. Certification requirements address three core areas: compliance with consensus-based national standards; effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.

An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

Memorial University Medical Center is a two-state healthcare organization serving a 35-county area in southeast Georgia and southern South Carolina. The system includes its flagship hospital, a 610-bed academic medical center; Memorial primary and specialty physician networks; a major medical education program; business and industry services; and NurseOne, a 24-hour call center. To learn more, visit www.memorialhealth.com. You can follow us at facebook.com/memorialhealth, twitter.com/mymemorial, and youtube.com/memorialhealth.