Community Hospital recently earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Western Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and Grand Valley Spine and Pain accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards.

The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health-care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care, Community Hospital said in a news release.

The certification, offered in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, focuses on the pre-surgical orthopedic consultation to the intraoperative, hospitalization or ambulatory surgical center admission, rehabilitation activities and follow-up visit with the orthopedic surgeon.

Community Hospital underwent a rigorous, unannounced review in March. During the visit, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with four of Community Hospital’s orthopedics and spine programs, including Total Joint Replacement Surgery for hip, knee and shoulder as well as spine surgery. A thorough review of standards spanned several areas including environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, medication management, rights and responsibilities of patients and more. The reviewer also conducted thorough observations and interviews.

“Joint Commission certification recognizes health care organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Ken Grubbs of The Joint Commission. “We commend Community Hospital for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”