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Current News
The Dominion Post , Friday, February 13, 2004 WVU Hospitals is ranked among the top 2 percent of hospitals nationwide, according to a review published this week. The news comes from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations after a group of inspectors spent two days visiting the hospital in September. The inspectors scored WVUH a 99 out of a possible 100 points. Hospitals routinely make themselves available for voluntary commission visits for the purpose of being accredited. "We've worked pretty hard here on improving patient safety and satisfaction and clinical quality," said Bruce McClymonds, WVUH president. "We've also been working with the WVU School of Medicine and its faculty, and they have been a big part of the process." The accrediting inspectors review data and conduct personal interviews concerning the appearance and functionality of the facility; examine staff and employee records and evaluate management procedures; interview patients; and review medical records. Hospitals must be accredited every three years by either the commission or a state health department in order to accept MediCare funds, said McClymonds. In fall 2002, WVUH scored 94 points. McClymonds said the exceptionally high rating for this year is impressive because the hospital has an increasing number of patients. The inspection came just as executives broke ground for a $75 million expansion approved last year by the state Health Care Authority. That expansion will involve more patient services. WVUH has 450 beds now. The construction, expected to be complete in July 2005, will add 72 beds, McClymonds said. The JCAHO also reviewed WVUH pathology and clinical laboratories and behavioral health services. The labs scored 96 and behavioral health services scored 97. The commission evaluates and accredits more than 16,000 health-care organizations and programs in the United States. As an independent, nonprofit organization, it has been the nation's predominant group for setting standards since it was formed in 1951. McClymonds said WVUH's high score in no way means that the improvement process is over for the hospital. "It's like taking a test in school. It's another measure of how you are performing, and it's a continuous effort. We're already talking about the next survey," he said. McClymonds said the main reason WVUH tries so hard to score well on accreditation visits is to discourage residents from going out of state for health care. "The real focus is not on the survey. The real focus is on delivering good and safe patient care," he said. |
