CANANDAIGUA – The Birthing Center at UR Medicine F.F. Thompson Hospital recently received Advanced Certification for Perinatal Care from The Joint Commission for the second time.
The Birthing Center, which first achieved this distinction in 2016, was commended for its overall quality of care, flexibility, and innovation. The reviewer specifically highlighted the Lactation Suite, robust continuing education for nurses, and requirements for staff professional certifications. She praised the evidence-based content of patient education, as well as the unit’s use of team training, particularly the use of simulation to effectively train for emergencies. In addition, The Joint Commission found zero deficiencies during its rigorous site visit Aug. 23 and 24. Thompson Hospital is one of only 56 organizations in the United States to have achieved this certification.
“This recertification speaks to the unparalleled commitment to excellence from our director of Obstetrics, our chief of Obstetrics/Gynecology, our OB/GYN physicians and nurse midwives, the entire staff of techs and nurses, as well as our Quality and Safety Department,” said Thompson Health President/CEO Michael F. Stapleton, Jr., FACHE. “The Joint Commission surveyor commended our intra-disciplinary involvement in evidence-based care.”
The Joint Commission is the premier healthcare quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation. Its advanced certification program – established in 2015 – recognizes Joint Commission-accredited hospitals committed to achieving integrated, coordinated and patient-centered care for mothers and their newborns.
In 2017, there were 638 babies delivered at Thompson. The hospital is expecting more than 700 deliveries this year.
During The Joint Commission’s site visit at Thompson, there was an independent evaluation of the hospital’s perinatal healthcare services, as well as evaluation of the following
requirements:
- Integrated, coordinated patient-centered care that starts with prenatal and continues through postpartum care
- Early identification of high-risk pregnancies and births
- Management of mothers’ and newborns’ risks Available patient education and information about perinatal care services
The perinatal re-certification comes on the heels of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announcing earlier this year that F.F. Thompson Hospital had once again received the Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care designation in recognition of evidence-based, patient-centered care as well as cost efficiency.
To view Joint Commission accreditation status for Thompson and other hospitals, visit www.qualitycheck.org.