RUHS Medical Center Earns Advanced Certification for Inpatient Diabetes Care

From Riverside University Health System:

MORENO VALLEY, CA — RUHS Medical Center has earned recognition from The Joint Commission for the high-level care it provides to patients with diabetes, RUHS officials announced today.

The Joint Commission awarded RUHS Medical Center the advanced certification following a rigorous onsite evaluation for compliance with national standards in diabetes and inpatient diabetes management.

RUHS is one of just 15 hospitals in California and among only 91 hospitals in the country to achieve the advanced certification. The Commission accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 healthcare organizations and programs nationally. The Joint Commission Gold Seal is recognized throughout the country as a symbol of quality and commitment to top performance.

“This certification demonstrates the commitment and knowledge our providers bring to individuals who have an insidious disease,” said Dr. Gary Thompson, who leads RUHS Medical Center’s performance improvement and patient safety initiatives.

Nearly 8 percent of Riverside County’s 2.3 million residents have diabetes, placing many at risk for blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke. Improving long-term outcomes goes a long way toward improving their quality of life, said Marybeth Maury-Holmes, the nursing director who coordinated the Medical Center’s certification effort.

Chief Nursing Officer Janis Rustad called the advanced certification great recognition of the work that goes on daily at RUHS Medical Center and the direct result of a skilled and dedicated team that includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists and many others.

“It’s a wonderful acknowledgment for our team and our hospital,” Rustad said. “But the real beneficiaries are our patients and they are the reason why we’re here.”

About Riverside University Health System – Medical Center: The 439-bed hospital is a Level II Trauma Center, the only Pediatric ICU in Riverside County and a designated Primary Stroke Center. It’s also a teaching hospital for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals. About The Joint Commission: www.jointcommission.org.

Image via RUHS.