St. Peter’s Health Partners receives Integrated Care Certification
ALBANY, N.Y. >> St. Peter’s Health Partners was recently awarded a new title from The Joint Commission, becoming the first organization in New York state, and one of only a few organizations in the United States, to receive Integrated Care Certification.
Officials said the certification demonstrates SPHP’s focus on improving care coordination across the continuum of care, particularly as it relates to information sharing, transitions of care, handoff communications, and other key activities impacting patients moving between the hospital and outpatient care settings.
SPHP affiliates and practices included in the certification are Samaritan Hospital, Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, Eddy Visiting Nurse and Rehab Association, Troy Internal Medicine and Troy Medical Group.
The Joint Commission, which gave the certification, is an independent, nonprofit organization that seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. It accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.
SPHP underwent a rigorous onsite review on Oct.11 and 12 to assess its compliance with certification standards for integrated care.
During the review, officials said Joint Commission experts evaluated several areas, including communication, information technology integration, patient and family engagement, service integration, and quality improvement activities that span the cont i nuum of care.
“Becoming a truly integrated health care system has always been the vision of St. Peter’s Health
Pa r t ner s , ” said James
Reed, M.D., president and CEO of SPHP, in a news release. “This recognition by The Joint Commission is an important step in realizing that vision. I offer my sincere thanks and a hearty congratulations to everyone who played a role in bringing this incredible honor to our system.”
SPHP’s president of continuing care, Kim Baker, who led the system’s efforts to earn this certifica- tion, added, “We are delighted to receive Integrated Care Certification from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation. By achieving this certification, we are fostering improved collaboration and patient- centeredness, while also helping to reduce the risk of adverse events.”
Established in 2015, Integrated Care Certification is awarded for a three-year period to Joint Commission-accredited hospitals, ambulatory health care organizations, home health agencies, and nursing homes.
“Organizations with Integrated Care Certification are promoting improved safety around the integration of patient care between hospitals and ambulatory health care providers and organizations,” said David W. Baker, M.D., MPH, FACP, executive vice president, Division of Health Care Quality Evaluation, The Joint Commission, in the release. “This certification signifies that the partners covered by Integrated Care Certification have strong links between health care settings, and it provides a pathway for leaders to improve patient satisfaction and reduce preventable admissions and emergency department use.”