Second National Accreditation
06/22/2010
For Immediate Release
April 28, 2010
Contact: Sherrie Bakke, Director of Marketing and Foundation
559.685.3448 ? sbakke@TulareRegional.org
TULARE REGIONAL EARNS SECOND NATIONAL QUALITY ACCREDITATION
Tulare California, April 26, 2010 – Tulare Regional Medical Center announces achieving a second, full quality accreditation.
Tulare Regional Medical Center is the only hosptial, pharmacy, laboratory and Rural Health Care Clinic system in the Central Valley Region to receive full accreditation from both The Joint Commission and DNV Healthcare, Inc.
Last week, Tulare Regional Medical Center received notice of completing the DNV Healthcare, Inc. accreditation standards. DNV Healthcare uses an innovative program integrating the Medicare Conditions of Participation with ISO 9001 quality standards.
“The DNV accreditation program provides us the opportunity to comply with our Medicare requirements and implement the ISO standards all at the same time,” says Shawn Bolouki, Chief Executive Officer. “This is much more than an accreditation program, it’s a catalyst for our ongoing commitment to patient safety and clinical quality.”
Taking Accreditation to a New Level
DNV accreditation is based on the NIAHOSM (National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations) standards that encourages collaboration between different hospital departments. Other approaches to accreditation use one inspection checklist for every hospital no matter where they are located or the types of patients they serve. DNV focuses on innovation.
“We believe DNV takes our organization to a new level,” says Patricia Mathewson, RN, Chief Clinical Officer/Chief Nursing Officer. “The DNV accreditation and ISO 9001 processes are very demanding. Staff must constantly improve and continually perform at a higher level.” Mathewson added.
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ISO 9001:2008 is recognized by businesses around the world as the benchmark for continual quality improvement. Innovative hospitals have started embracing ISO as a way to identify and focus on the most successful approaches to patient care, billing and other critical aspects of running a modern healthcare system.
“DNV accreditation supports coordination of best practices focusing our efforts on patient safety, quality care, and an evidence based medicine,” says Julie Gresham, RN, Chief Quality Officer.
Unlike other accreditation programs, conducting on-site surveys every three years, DNV surveyors visit Tulare Regional Medical Center on annual intervals. “This accreditation supports the quality patient care our physicians, surgeons and staff are providing while aligning with the TRMC Quality Value“ Bolouki added.
In October of 2010 Tulare Regional Medical Center earned a three-year full accreditation from The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 17,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality reflecting an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.
About Tulare Regional Medical Center
Tulare Regional Medical Center is a General Accute Care Facility with 112 licensed beds and 24-hour emergency care. Our commitment to quality patient care is reflected in our accreditations and will soon be seen through the renovation of our hosptial and construction of the new 115,000 square foot medical tower.
The Medical Tower, with helipad, is slated to open in late 2012. The expansion will provide 5 floors of state-of- the art care. The new Emergency Department including an ED patient laboratory, will be 400% large than our current facility. Imagining and surgical capabilities will expand and there will be an addition of 27 new private patient rooms.
About DNV Healthcare
DNV Healthcare Inc., with offices in Cincinnati and Houston, is a division of DNV, an independent foundation dedicated to safeguarding life, property and the environment. Globally, DNV has 300 offices in 100 different countries. For more information about DNV Healthcare and DNV hospital accreditation, visit www.dnvaccreditation.com.
