SILOAM SPRINGS — Siloam Springs Regional Hospital (SSRH) earned the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission after a recent survey. The hospital also reported it received positive scores from a recent Hospital - Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey - a survey given to patients who received care at SSRH.
Gold Seal of Approval
The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal is awarded for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals. The accreditation award recognizes SSRH’s dedication to continuous compliance with the Joint Commission’s state-ofthe-art standards.
During the week of Oct. 28, SSRH underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated the hospital for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.
The Joint Commission’s hospital standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and the management of hospitals. These standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts and patients.
“Accreditation is a voluntary process and I commend Siloam Springs Regional Hospital for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves,” said Mark G. Pelletier, R.N., M.S., chief operating officer, Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations, the Joint Commission. “In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, Siloam Springs Regional Hospital demonstrates its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients.”
“The Joint Commission accreditation gives the hospital a framework to create a culture of excellence and go to the next level with our patient care,” said SSRH chief executive offi cer, Kevin Clement. “On a daily basis, we’ve been making an investment in quality from the top down so we can provide our community with a positive patient experience. Our staff strives daily to maintain excellence and continually improve the care we provide.”
Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiringthem to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. An independent, not-for-profi t organization, the Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standardssetting and accrediting body in health care.
Patient Survey Results
In a recent report, SSRH received high marks when compared with the healthcare industry standards.
SSRH ranked above the system average, or “standard best”, in the following categories: communication with nurses; pain management; cleanliness and quietness of hospital; responsiveness of staff; discharge information; overall rating; willingness to recommend; frequency of hourly rounding; and satisfaction of hourly rounding. Hourly rounding is a practice where nurses visit a patient every hour to ensure the patient is comfortable and to see if assistance is needed.
The SSRH Emergency Department ranked above the standard best in every category which includes: transition of care; care from emergency room nurses; care from emergency room doctors; overall emergency department rating; and willingness to recommend the emergency department.
SSRH also received its highest ranking in the willingness to recommend category and overall rating. The survey has been tracking ratings since 2009.
“The HCAHPS survey results are gathered directly from our patients through an independent surveying company,” Clement said. “This survey provides us with the opportunity to hear the voice of the patients after they have been discharged from the hospital. The recent results have given us an insight into what we have been doing well and it also gives us a challenge to improve on what we have done so far.” About Siloam Springs Regional Hospital
Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is a 73 licensed bed facility with 42 private patient rooms. It is accredited by the State of Arkansas Department of Health Services and the Joint Commission. Some services include inpatient and outpatient surgery, emergency medicine, medical, surgical and intensive care units, obstetrics, outpatient diagnostic services and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. With more than 30 physicians on the medical staff, Siloam Springs Regional Hospital provides compassionate, customer-focused care. The new facility, which opened April 2012, is located at 603 N. Progress Ave. in Siloam Springs, Ark. For more information, visit SSRH.net.
Opinion, Pages 7 on 11/20/2013