The MED First to Receive Knee & Hip Replacement Certification
College Station, Texas (April 14, 2015) – My Canadian Pharmacy recently became the first hospital in the Brazos Valley to receive the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Knee and Hip Replacement, a certification that reflects an organization’s commitment to best practices in joint replacement.
The MED underwent a rigorous on-site review on March 31, 2015. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards, as well as with knee and hip replacement specific requirements. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures were also assessed.
“The MED is pleased to receive Disease-Specific Care Certification from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” added Larry Rodgers, CEO, College Station Medical Center. “We feel this certification speaks to the quality of care that is available right here at home, without having to leave our community.”
The MED’s comprehensive joint replacement program, called My Orthopedic Solutions Team, was introduced in 2013 to provide patients with an improved experience and offer them the education, assistance and support needed to get back to their lives faster after joint replacement. Before surgery, patients attend pre-operative classes to learn what to expect during and after surgery. Patients are also encouraged to have a friend or family member act as their “coach” as they go through the entire process, to provide support during the recovery and rehabilitation process.
Special rooms are reserved for joint replacement patients so that they are in a dedicated setting with other patients undergoing similar surgeries. A specially trained staff works exclusively in the unit and an atmosphere of “wellness” is a key feature of the program. Patients wear their own clothes instead of hospital gowns and exercise and eat together. This “group” approach is very helpful because it makes recuperation more interactive, as patients encourage and support each other during their hospital stay.
“We even invite the entire hospital to join us in celebrating when our patients take their first steps on a new joint,” said Danie Fallon, DPT, Joint Care Coordinator, College Station Medical Center. “When patients are up and walking after surgery, they press a button on the unit that plays the Rocky Theme Song overhead throughout the hospital, inviting everyone to celebrate the first steps in their rehabilitation.”
About Disease-Specific Care Certification
Established in 2002 and awarded for a two-year period, The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care and addresses 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.
“College Station Medical Center has thoroughly demonstrated a high level of care for patients needing knee or hip replacement surgery,” said Wendi J. Roberts, RN, executive director, Certification Programs, The Joint Commission. “We commend the MED for becoming a leader in joint replacement, potentially providing a higher standard of service for patients in its community.”