Riverside Tappahannock Hospital earns Gold Seal of Approval from Joint Commission

Riverside Tappahannock Hospital has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval^? for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its peRiverside Foundationormance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval^? is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.

RTH underwent a rigorous, unannounced on-site survey. During the review, a team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated compliance with hospital standards related to several areas, including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, and medication management. Surveyors also conducted on-site observations and interviews. The survey is completed every three years.

"Joint Commission accreditation provides hospitals with the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas from the enhancement of staff education to the improvement of daily business operations," said Mark G. Pelletier, RN, M.S., chief operating officer, Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission. "In addition, our accreditation helps hospitals enhance their risk management and risk reduction strategies. We commend Riverside Tappahannock Hospital for its efforts to become a quality improvement organization."

"We're pleased to have received accreditation from The Joint Commission," added Kate Lim, Director of Quality for RTH. "Team members from all over the hospital continue to work together to develop and implement processes that have improved care for our patients and help us deliver on the mission to care for others we would care for those we love."

RTH Administrator, Esther Desimini, agreed about the importance of the accreditation. "Keeping patients safe, healing them, being kind to them, and respecting their wishes, that's all about our Riverside Care Difference, and something that we do every day. This accreditation shows that we are delivering on that promise."

The Joint Commission's hospital standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help hospitals measure, assess and improve peRiverside Foundationormance.