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HomeCommentaryOp-edOp-Ed: SRMC Has a Successful Joint Commission Survey

Op-Ed: SRMC Has a Successful Joint Commission Survey

Schneider Regional Medical Center CEO Tina Comissiong (Submitted photo)

Congratulations to our entire staff at Schneider Regional Medical Center on successfully completing our regular, unannounced accreditation survey by The Joint Commission. Our leadership team and I, along with our entire community, express our sincere appreciation to our staff for their daily dedication to our patients and for their commitment to making Schneider Regional a place where our patients can get the safe and compassionate quality care they deserve.

Attaining Joint Commission accreditation means that Schneider Regional Medical Center complies with the highest national standards for safety and quality of care and that we are committed to continually improving patient care at our organization. Every three years, The Joint Commission performs an unannounced inspection of the Schneider Regional Medical Center – including our Roy Lester Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas and our Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center on St. John – to ensure that we are meeting important quality and safety standards for our patients.

Schneider Regional had a three-day survey by The Joint Commission on Sept. 27, 28 and 29. A physician surveyor, a nurse surveyor and a facilities surveyor were on-site at our facilities inspecting everything we do. These highly trained surveyors evaluated Schneider Regional on 250 standards and looked at all of our practices including how we handle patient rights and education; infection control; medication management; preventing medical errors; verifying that our doctors, nurses and other staff are qualified and competent; preparing for emergencies; collecting data on our performance; and using our data to improve ourself.

Special thanks and commendations go out to our Performance Improvement team, led by Dr. Delphine Olivacce and our Nursing and Facility Management teams for their excellent work.

We want to let our patients and community know that Schneider Regional will continue to be accredited with The Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission. Although The Joint Commission typically takes two weeks to two months after a survey to render an official decision, all indications suggest that Schneider Regional Medical Center received a very high score and will continue to be accredited. This is a major achievement, particularly considering that we are a hospital on a small island with very complex challenges and are still recovering from the effects of two major Category 5 hurricanes (Irma and Maria).

Professional, independent surveyors of The Joint Commission have validated that Schneider

Regional Medical Center is an excellent and safe place to receive care. They were able to see how much our staff cares about our patients and how our staff go above and beyond daily for our patients. You can trust Schneider Regional with your health care.

About The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public in collaboration with other stakeholders by evaluating healthcare organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 22,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including hospitals and health care organizations that provide ambulatory and office-based surgery, behavioral health, home health care, laboratory and nursing care center services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

Joint Commission certification is not mandatory. Schneider Regional Medical Center voluntarily pursues accreditation.

Contact SRMC CEO, Tina M. Comissiong Esq. at 776-8311 exts. 2264 or 2286 or email

mediarelations@srmedicalcenter.org

Editor’s note: Tina Comissiong Esq., MPA, is the CEO of Schneider Regional Medical Center.

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