October 10, 2005

JAMESON HEALTH SYSTEM
AWARDED ACCREDITATION FROM JOINT COMMISSION

New Castle, PA – Jameson Memorial Hospital has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval by demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization’s national standards for health care quality and safety.  The award of accreditation is for a three-year period ending in 2008.

Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation’s health care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations through voluntary accreditation.  The Joint Commission’s on-site survey of Jameson Memorial Hospital occurred in March. 

            “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 Kurt Patton, executive director, Hospital Accreditation Program, 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.”

“We sought accreditation for our organization because we want to demonstrate our commitment to our patients, employees, medical staff and board of directors safety and quality care,” says Mr. Thomas White, CEO, Jameson Health System.  “We view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward achieving excellence.”

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