Sample News Release for Office-Based Surgery

Contact:

(Name)

(Title)

(Telephone number)

(Email)

(NAME OF ORGANIZATION) AWARDED OFFICE-BASED SURGERY

ACCREDITATION FROM THE JOINT COMMISSION

(CITY, State – Date) – (Name of organization) today announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Office-Based Surgery 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 care.

(Name of organization) underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite survey on (date). During the review, compliance with office-based surgery standards related to several areas, including coordination of care, patient education and training, proper monitoring of patients during procedures that involve deep sedation or anesthesia, and postoperative care plans was evaluated. Onsite observations and interviews also were conducted.

Established in 2001, The Joint Commission’s Office-Based Surgery Accreditation Program serves as a quality oversight tool for surgical practices with four or less practitioners. An estimated 350 organizations currently maintain Office-Based Surgery Accreditation from The Joint Commission, awarded for a three-year period.

“As patients across the United States increasingly receive care in an office-based setting, Joint Commission accreditation provides office-based surgery organizations with processes contributing to improvements in patient care across a variety of areas,” said Michael Kulczycki, executive director, Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation Program. “We commend (name of organization) and its staff for achieving this pinnacle demonstrating a commitment to patient safety and quality. Your passion, dedication and tenacity can ultimately improve patient care. Thank you for your commitment to patient safety and entrusting The Joint Commission to assist you.”

“(Name of organization) is pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” added (name, title, organization). “Staff from across the organization continue to work 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 office-based surgery standards are a subset of its ambulatory care standards and are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, quality improvement measurement experts, and patients. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

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The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

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