Northern Westchester Earns Gold Seal Ranking For Joint Replacement

MOUNT KISCO, NY — A local hospital earned an actual gold seal for its fastidious approach to an increasingly common medical procedure.

Northern Westchester Hospital's Orthopedic and Spine Institute has earned The Joint Commission’s prestigious Gold Seal of Approval for Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification after demonstrating continuous compliance with the group's performance standards. The Gold Seal is recognized as an endorsement of the standards of a hospital's commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

The certification, which was offered through collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, focuses on pre-surgical orthopedic consultations to intraoperative, hospitalization or ambulatory surgical center admissions, rehabilitation activities and follow-up visits with orthopedic surgeons.

"We are pleased to partner with our medical staff to ensure that we provide the highest quality of care for our community," Northern Westchester Hospital Executive Director Derek Anderson said. "The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Total Hip and Knee Replacement confirms that our Orthopedic and Spine Institute team is committed to the patient experience and maintaining the highest standards of clinical care."

Northern Westchester Hospital underwent a comprehensive on-site review in December of 2021. During the visit, a joint specialist served as commission reviewer and evaluated the hospital's compliance with certification standards. The survey focused on patient education, communication, continuum of patient-centered care and collaboration among the providers.

"Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” The Joint Commission accreditation chief Mark Pelletier said. "We commend Northern Westchester Hospital for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for orthopedic patients."

In addition to hip and knee replacement, The Orthopedic and Spine Institute at NWH has built a growing reputation for employing new, but proven technologies and techniques for minimally invasive and arthroscopic surgeries to treat a range of surgical treatments for musculoskeletal issues from anterior cruciate ligaments, fractures, hips, knees, shoulders, pediatric and adolescent sports injuries.

"Most patients are so pleased with their new joints that they wish they had not put off surgery for so long," said Dr. Joel Buchalter, director of joint replacement surgery at the Orthopedic and Spine Institute, said. "After years of pain and inactivity they are back to hiking, biking, horseback riding and playing with their grandchildren without pain and usually within a few short months."

More information can be found at the Joint Commission website and Northern Westchester Hospital's Orthopedic and Spine Institute website.