CARIBOU, Maine – Cary Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for the Hospital Accreditation Program by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards.
The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
Cary underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review in early February. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with hospital standards spanning several areas including: emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, medication management and rights and responsibilities of individuals.
“As a private accreditor, The Joint Commission surveys health care organizations to protect the public by identifying deficiencies in care and working with those organizations to correct them as quickly and sustainably as possible,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Cary Medical Center for its continuous quality improvement efforts in patient safety and quality of care.”
Kris Doody, RN, CEO at Cary Medical Center said that earning Accreditation by the Joint Commission is the result of the entire organization working together in a variety of areas to meet national standards of care and achieve ongoing quality improvement.
“Earning Accreditation means a great deal to Cary Medical Center,” said Doody. “Our entire Cary Family from our board of directors to our professional staff and support services play an important role in achieving this ‘Gold Seal of Approval.’ We salute their efforts in helping us to earn Joint Commission Accreditation while serving on the front lines caring for our patients throughout this COVID-19 pandemic.”
Regen Gallagher, DO, and chief medical officer at Cary said that the Joint Commission does a serious review of the hospital’s medical staff and their approach to national safety standards during the survey.
“Our medical staff is an important part of our quality improvement process,” said Dr. Gallagher. “Their commitment to quality care and patient safety and their compliance with national standards is a critical part of our success in achieving this full three year Joint Commission Accreditation”.
The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help health care organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
