May 8, 2002

JAMESON HEALTH SYSTEM
AWARDED ACCREDITATION FROM JOINT COMMISSION

New Castle, PA – Jameson Memorial Hospital and Jameson’s Visiting Nurses Association have achieved accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as a result of their demonstrated compliance with the Joint Commission’s nationally recognized health care standards. 

            Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation.  The Joint Commission’s on-site survey of Jameson Memorial Hospital and Jameson Visiting Nurses Association occurred in April.

            “Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization’s performance and the outcomes of care,” says Russell P. Massaro, M.D., executive vice president, Accreditation Operations, Joint Commission.  “The community should be proud that Jameson is focusing on the most challenging goal – to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels.”

            Mr. Thomas White, CEO, Jameson Health System, spoke of his pride in a staff whose members ask what needs to be done to be accredited by the Joint Commission.  “In addition, they appreciate the educational aspect of the survey and the opportunity to interact with the team of surveyors.   Jameson Memorial Hospital received a score of 97 on the survey.  Only 10 percent of hospital’s surveyed receive this score or higher.”

            He called the accreditation, “proof of an organization-wide commitment to provide quality care to the residents of Lawrence County on an ongoing basis.”

###