STUART — On July 5, Treasure Coast Hospice announced that it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for hospice accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

“Earning national accreditation from The Joint Commission is an accomplishment that truly reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of care to our patients,” said Treasure Coast Hospice CEO Jackie Kendrick, CHPCA. “I am extremely proud of the dedication and teamwork that our staff demonstrated in preparation for this national review of our quality and safety standards. Multiple surveyors expressed how knowledgeable the staff is, which shows the importance that Treasure Coast Hospice places on training and education. This achievement affirms our team’s efforts to prioritize patient safety and high-quality care by meeting the rigorous standards set by the most prestigious accrediting organization in healthcare.”

The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® indicates that a healthcare organization has met or exceeded federal Medicare requirements to ensure safe and high quality care for all patients. In Florida, Treasure Coast Hospice is one of 12 hospices accredited by The Joint Commission.

Treasure Coast Hospice underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review last month. During the visit, a team of specially-trained Joint Commission surveyors evaluated compliance with hospice and health care standards spanning several areas, including medication management, emergency management, environment of care, and infection prevention and control. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews with staff.

The Joint Commission’s hospice standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts, hospice providers and researchers, as well as industry experts, purchasers and consumers. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

“As a heath care accreditor, The Joint Commission works with health care organizations across settings to help improve patient safety and quality of care through our expert resources and tools, innovative solutions and rigorous standards,” says Deborah Ryan, MS, RN, interim executive vice president, Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission. “We commend Treasure Coast Hospice for its commitment to advance safety and quality for all patients.”