VA Maryland Health Care System’s Mental Health Opioid Agonist Treatment Program Awarded Accreditation from The Joint Commission
(PRWEB) September 25, 2014 -- The Veterans Affairs (VA) Maryland Health Care System’s Mental Health Opioid Agonist Treatment Program has earned certification from The Joint Commission. By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission‘s national standards for Mental Health Opioid Agonist Treatment, the VA Maryland Health Care System has earned continued accreditation, which is The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval™.
The Joint Commission conducted an unannounced, on-site evaluation of the VA Maryland Health Care System Mental Health Opioid Agonist Treatment Program on Sept.15, 2014. The accreditation award, which will be finalized following the Commission’s final review process, recognizes the VA Maryland Health Care System’s dedication to complying with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.
“We sought continued accreditation for our Mental Health Opioid Agonist Treatment Program because we want to demonstrate our commitment to patient safety and quality care,” says Dennis H. Smith, director of the VA Maryland Health Care System. “We view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as a continued commitment toward achieving excellence. It is rewarding when experienced surveyors from The Joint Commission confirm for us that we are achieving our mission of ‘Honoring America’s Veterans as heroes by providing the highest quality health care.”
During the exit briefing, The Joint Commission surveyor remarked that the staff members in the VA Maryland Health Care System’s Opioid Agonist Treatment Program work together “beautifully” and they provide outstanding care and compassion to their Veteran patients. The surveyor also reported that the Veteran patients in the Opioid Agonist Treatment Program spoke very highly of the care they are receiving and the dedication of the staff members in the program.
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,600 other health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also certifies more than 2,400 disease-specific care programs such as stroke, health failure, joint replacement and stroke rehabilitation, and 400 health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
The VA Maryland Health Care System, which includes the Baltimore and Perry Point VA Medical Centers, the Loch Raven VA Community Living & Rehabilitation Center and the Cambridge, Fort Howard, Fort Meade, Glen Burnie, Loch Raven and Pocomoke City VA Outpatient Clinics, serves more than 55,000 Veterans each year. Recognized as one of the ‘Best Places to Work’ by the Baltimore Magazine in 2011, the health care system is proud of its reputation as a leader in veterans’ health care, research and education.
Rosalia Scalia, Veterans Health Administration, http://www.maryland.va.gov, +1 (410) 605-7464, [email protected]
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