Last updated 2-24-14
Sample News Release for Laboratory Accreditation
Contact:
(Spokesperson, title)
(Telephone number)
(Email)
(NAME OF ORGANIZATION) AWARDED LABORATORY
ACCREDITATION FROM THE JOINT COMMISSION
(City – Date) (Name of organization) today announced that it has earned The Joint Commission’sGold Seal of Approval® for Laboratory Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval®is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.
(Name of organization) underwent a rigorous, unannounced on-site survey in (month/date). During the review, a team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated compliance with laboratory standards related to several areas, including document and process control, healthcare-associated conditions, risk reduction, and staff education. Surveyors also conducted on-site observations and interviews.
The Joint Commission has accredited hospital laboratory services since 1979, and freestanding laboratories since 1995. Almost 2,000 organizations, including laboratories in hospitals, reference labs, blood transfusion and donor centers, public health laboratories, and point-of-care test sites currently maintain Laboratory Accreditation from The Joint Commission, awarded for a two-year cycle.
“Joint Commission accreditation giveslaboratories the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas from specimen collection to result reporting,” said Chad Larson, M.B.A., interim executive director, Laboratory Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “We commend (name of organization) for its efforts to have laboratory services contribute and support the overall healthcare delivery system.”
“(Name of organization) is pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier healthcare quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” added (name, title, organization). “Being accredited means we are focused on continual performance improvement. Pathologists and other laboratory staff are working together to develop and implement approaches and strategies that have the potential to improve care for the patients in our community.”
The Joint Commission’s laboratory standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.
To learn more about the Laboratory Accreditation Program, please visit
###
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve healthcare for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating healthcare organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 20,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,500 other healthcare organizations that provide nursing and rehabilitation center care, behavioral healthcare, laboratory and ambulatory care services. 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. The Joint Commission also provides health care staffing services certification for more than 750 staffing offices. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. Learn more about The Joint Commission at
(Organization boilerplate)