For University of Toledo Medical Center administrators Mark Chastang, Norma Tomlinson, Dr. Ronald McGinnis and others, preparing for accreditation visits seemingly never ends.
On the heels of a successful accreditation visit from the Joint Commission last November, the hospital is preparing for five rigorous accreditation visits in 2009.
“Obviously, we were delighted with the results of our Joint Commission survey,” said Tomlinson, associate vice president and associate executive director of UT Medical Center. “But we can’t rest on our laurels. Accreditations are part of our culture. They help us constantly measure how well we are providing the best, the safest, the most compassionate care and service daily to our patients.”
The five programs currently are accredited.
The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Review could conduct an unannounced review of the hospital pharmacy operation at any time.
The Joint Commission is coming back before the end of April to review the medical center’s award-winning stroke program, which is headed by Dr. Gretchen Tietjen, professor and chair of neurology.
UTMC’s Stroke Program is the only one in northwest Ohio that holds the commission’s Gold Seal of Approval, which demonstrates the program meets national standards and guidelines that are known to significantly improve outcomes for stroke, the nation’s third leading cause of death. Fewer than 200 primary stroke centers in the United States have earned such designation.
The American College of Surgeons Cancer Commission is scheduled to visit April 20 to evaluate the hospital’s cancer program. Surveyors will review cancer data and patient charts and meet with UT health-care professionals from such areas as surgery, radiation oncology, radiology, social work, pharmacy and rehabilitation. They also will tour cancer-care facilities in the hospital. The organization sets standards of care, education, research and monitoring of care.
The College of American Pathologists (CAP) will conduct a two-day visit of the hospital clinical laboratories sometime between March 1 and May 31. CAP surveyors will examine pathology, cytology, transfusion services, hematology, chemistry, microbiology and other services that impact inpatients and outpatients and review staff’s qualifications, laboratory equipment, facilities, safety programs and records, and overall laboratory management.
The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities is scheduled to visit in November to examine the hospital’s comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program as well as its inpatient and outpatient stroke, spinal cord and brain injury programs.