Piedmont Macon Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for its Stroke Rehabilitation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in disease-specific care. The certification award recognizes the dedication of Piedmont Macon’s Rehabilitation Center to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the- art standards and is the only facility in Macon to be so recognized. 

Piedmont Macon Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Center underwent a rigorous onsite review in which a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients and families, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients.

“Stroke Rehabilitation Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Piedmont Macon Medical Center for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke patients.” 

“We are proud of the investment in quality and care we have made in our people and in the community through our Stroke Rehabilitation program here at Piedmont Macon Medical Center,” says Stephen Daugherty, CEO. “By achieving Joint Commission certification, we are reinforcing our commitment to our patients’ safety and wellness while recognizing and upholding our culture of excellence in patient care.”

The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification Program is designed to evaluate clinical programs across the continuum of care. Certification requirements address three core areas: compliance with consensus-based national standards; effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.