NASSAU HEALTH CARE CORPORATION RECEIVES NOTIFICATION FROM JOINT COMMISSION OF CONTINUATION OF HEALTH SYSTEM FULL ACCREDITATION

August 3, 2009
Contact:  Shelley Lotenberg
(516) 572-6055
shelley@numc.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NASSAU HEALTH CARE CORPORATION RECEIVES NOTIFICATION FROM JOINT COMMISSION OF CONTINUATION OF HEALTH SYSTEM FULL ACCREDITATION

STAFF COMMENDED FOR COMMITMENT TO QUALITY CARE AND FOCUS ON PATIENT SAFETY

East Meadow, NY….The Nassau Health Care Corporation, comprised of the Nassau University Medical Center, the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility and several health centers located throughout Nassau County, has been notified by the Joint Commission that a recent on-site, five-day survey, point to the continuation of the health system’s full accreditation.  The intense unannounced survey that took place from Monday, July 13, 2000 until the close of day Friday, July 17, 2009, assessed  major aspects of the health system’s day-to-day operations including environment of care, infection prevention and control, medication safety and patient safety.  The team of surveyors from the Joint Commission, the nation’s predominant standard setting and accrediting body in health care, observed activities, interviewed staff and examined documents for accuracy and timeliness.

“We are delighted and proud that the Joint Commission has recognized both our commitment to their national standards for quality health care and patient safety and that the NHCC truly demonstrated to the surveyors that we are a fundamentally different organization from three years ago, an organization that is transforming itself and has lived up to high expectations,” said Arthur A. Gianelli, NHCC President/CEO while commending the entire staff for their diligent efforts and their dedication to maintaining high standards in the daily operations and systems of the hospital, nursing home and health centers.

“At our exit conference, the surveyors indicated how impressed they were with the level of care and attention in complying with the Joint Commission’s standards on a continuous basis and it is rewarding to know that everyone’s commitment to quality care and emphasis on patient safety, demonstrated by our staff,  has been acknowledged by the independent surveyors,” added Martin D. Payson, NHCC chairman, board of directors.

The Joint Commission is the nation’s most respected and oldest healthcare accrediting body, accrediting health care organizations for over fifty years.