VA Maryland Health Care System

VA Maryland Health Care System Awarded Full Accreditation from The Joint Commission

(Baltimore, November 13, 2008) - By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Maryland Health Care System has earned continued accreditation, which is The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval ™.

The Joint Commission conducted an unannounced, on-site evaluation of the VA Maryland Health Care System for a one week period during October 27-31, 2008. The accreditation award, which will be finalized following the Commission's final review process, recognizes the VA Maryland Health Care System's dedication to complying with The Joint Commission's state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.

"We sought continued accreditation for our organization because we want to demonstrate our commitment to patient safety and quality care," says Dennis H. Smith, director of the VA Maryland Health Care System. "We view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as a continued commitment toward achieving excellence."

"Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization's performance and the outcomes of care," says Darlene Christiansen, executive director, Hospital Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. "The community should be proud that the VA Maryland Health Care System is focusing on the most challenging goal - to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels."

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800 other health care organizations that provide long term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. In addition, The Joint Commission provides certification of disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

Over 52,000 veterans are served each year by the VA Maryland Health Care System, which includes the Baltimore and Perry Point VA Medical Centers, the Baltimore VA Rehabilitation & Extended Care Center and the Cambridge, Fort Howard, Glen Burnie, Loch Raven and Pocomoke City VA Outpatient Clinics.  Recently recognized as one of the 10 Best Places to Work in Baltimore and the five surrounding counties, the health care system is proud of its reputation as a leader in veterans' health care, research and education.