Our nation's first hospital is celebrating yet another first in its storied history: Perinatal Care Certification from the Joint Commission.
Pennsylvania Hospital is proud to be the first in the region and one of only 58 hospitals nationally to receive Perinatal Care Certification from the Joint Commission. This certification recognizes our commitment to integrated, coordinated, patient-centered care that supports and maintains the health of mothers and newborns.
"Going through the certification process allowed us to compare ourselves with nationally recognized best practices, identifying both our opportunities and our achievements," Clinical Director Elizabeth Quigley stated. "We were thrilled to learn that in most areas we were excelling and we worked hard to close the few gaps we discovered. Perinatal Care Certification demonstrates to our patients that we are positioned to provide the best possible experience, from low-risk, low-intervention birth to complex care for high risk situations."
Pennsylvania Hospital underwent a rigorous onsite review to assess its compliance with certification standards for perinatal care.
During the review in September 2017, Joint Commission experts independently evaluated the hospital's perinatal health care services based on the following:
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Pennsylvania Hospital provides integrated, coordinated, patient-centered care that starts before birth and continues after delivery
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We are able to identify high-risk pregnancies and births early
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The risks to mothers and newborns are managed at a level that corresponds to the hospital's abilities
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We educate patients about perinatal care services
Earning certification means the Pennsylvania Hospital staff has voluntarily made an extra effort to review and improve the key areas that can affect the quality and safety of your care. It is considered the gold standard in health care.
"Achieving Perinatal Care Certification recognizes an organization's commitment to healthy mothers and healthy babies," said Patrick Phelan, executive director, Hospital Business Development, The Joint Commission. "The certification gives providers an unparalleled advantage when it comes to preparing mothers for labor and delivery, while also being able to help them if complications arise."
There are many benefits to choosing a hospital certified or accredited by the Joint Commission. The certification ensures we provide a safe environment for your care, educate you about your risks and options, protect your rights as a patient, continuously evaluate your condition, protect you against infection, and plan for emergency situations.
Established in 2015, Perinatal Care Certification is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited hospitals. The Joint Commission is an independent, nonprofit organization that evaluates health care organizations to determine if they excel at providing safe, effective and high-quality care. It is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care, and accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations.