WCCH Awarded Laboratory Accreditation from The Joint Commission
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West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital underwent a rigorous onsite review in October 2021. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with laboratory standards spanning several areas, including bacteriology, blood transfusion services, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, hematology, coagulation, immunology, molecular testing, parasitology, virology, blood gases and information management.
The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help healthcare organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“As a private accreditor, The Joint Commission surveys healthcare organizations to protect the public by identifying deficiencies in care and working with those organizations to correct them as quickly and sustainably as possible,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital for its continuous quality improvement efforts in patient safety and quality of care.”
“Joint Commission accreditation provides us a framework to ensure patient safety and helps create a culture of excellence,” says Janie Frugé, chief executive officer of WCCH. “Achieving Joint Commission accreditation for our laboratory services highlights our dedication to maintaining excellence and continually improving the care and service we provide our community.”
Thorough preparation was essential for a successful Joint Commission accreditation. The laboratory established a plan, and employees were assigned responsibilities for becoming familiar with each category of standards. Existing examples of evidence were identified, and a plan was developed to achieve compliance with standards in partial or no compliance areas. “The Joint Commission standards were incorporated into our day-to-day work, and all staff was educated on the standards and on the ways our organization meets the standards. A mock survey with multiple tracers was performed to ensure our employees and organization were prepared and comfortable with the Joint Commission process for accreditation,” says Tiffany Martin, clinical laboratory director for WCCH.
For more information about Laboratory Services Accreditation, please visit The Joint Commission website.
The WCCH Laboratory is under the medical direction of Robert L. Rumsey, MD. Outpatient laboratory testing is also available at the WCCH Outpatient Lab Draw Station and The Pathology Laboratory located at 1327 Stelly Lane, Suite 1, in Sulphur.
WCCH Awarded Laboratory Accreditation from The Joint Commission
03/08/22
West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Laboratory Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital underwent a rigorous onsite review in October 2021. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with laboratory standards spanning several areas, including bacteriology, blood transfusion services, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, hematology, coagulation, immunology, molecular testing, parasitology, virology, blood gases and information management.
The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help healthcare organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“As a private accreditor, The Joint Commission surveys healthcare organizations to protect the public by identifying deficiencies in care and working with those organizations to correct them as quickly and sustainably as possible,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital for its continuous quality improvement efforts in patient safety and quality of care.”
“Joint Commission accreditation provides us a framework to ensure patient safety and helps create a culture of excellence,” says Janie Frugé, chief executive officer of WCCH. “Achieving Joint Commission accreditation for our laboratory services highlights our dedication to maintaining excellence and continually improving the care and service we provide our community.”
Thorough preparation was essential for a successful Joint Commission accreditation. The laboratory established a plan, and employees were assigned responsibilities for becoming familiar with each category of standards. Existing examples of evidence were identified, and a plan was developed to achieve compliance with standards in partial or no compliance areas. “The Joint Commission standards were incorporated into our day-to-day work, and all staff was educated on the standards and on the ways our organization meets the standards. A mock survey with multiple tracers was performed to ensure our employees and organization were prepared and comfortable with the Joint Commission process for accreditation,” says Tiffany Martin, clinical laboratory director for WCCH.
For more information about Laboratory Services Accreditation, please visit The Joint Commission website.
The WCCH Laboratory is under the medical direction of Robert L. Rumsey, MD. Outpatient laboratory testing is also available at the WCCH Outpatient Lab Draw Station and The Pathology Laboratory located at 1327 Stelly Lane, Suite 1, in Sulphur.