PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. 

 

The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization's commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

 

The certification, in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, focuses on the pre-surgical orthopedic consultation to the intraoperative, hospitalization or ambulatory surgical center admission, rehabilitation activities, and follow-up visit with the orthopedic surgeon.

 

Berkshire Medical Center underwent a rigorous, unannounced virtual review and during the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards.

 

"Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care," said Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. "We commend Berkshire Medical Center for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for orthopedic patients."

 

Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

 

"Our Orthopaedic team at Berkshire Medical Center and Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates provides the highest level of care for our hip and knee replacement patients," said James Lederer, MD, Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer for Berkshire Health Systems. "This continued Gold Seal Certification validates their commitment to their patients and to our Berkshire community."

 

For more information, visit The Joint Commission website.