BRADFORD, PA - Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval(tm) for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals. The three-year accreditation award recognizes BRMC's dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission's state-of-the-art standards.

In September BRMC underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors spent three days at BRMC and 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 evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,500 other health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services.

"This is a significant achievement for BRMC", said Timothy J. Finan, president and CEO of BRMC and Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS). "Our staff works continuously to improve quality and safety and the gold seal is validation that the hospital is making great progress."

"By achieving Joint Commission accreditation, which is a voluntary process, BRMC has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients," Finan continued. "Our Board of Directors and administration commends our staff and physicians for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate the standard of care and instill confidence in the communities BRMC serves."

"Joint Commission accreditation underscores our investment in quality and safety on a day-to-day basis," said William Mills, M.D., Senior Vice President, Quality and Professional Affairs at BRMC and UAHS. "Accreditation provides us a framework to take our organization to the next level in creating a culture of excellence."

The Joint Commission's hospital standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and the management of hospitals. The standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts and patients.

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 inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.

The Joint Commission currently certifies more than 2,000 disease-specific care programs, focused on the care of patients with chronic illnesses such as stroke, joint replacement, stroke rehabilitation, heart failure and many others. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare.

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