Hospital In RI Nationally Recognized For Excellence At Its Spine Center

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Miriam Hospital in Providence has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for the Spine Center.

Earning the Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe, quality patient care, hospital officials said.

"The department of orthopedics is excited that the Spine Center at the Miriam Hospital is now an accredited spine center of excellence after formal review by the Joint Commission," Chief of Orthopedics Dr. Edward Akelman said. "This center is a joint neurosurgery and orthopedics collaborative center — one that is highly organized, sophisticated, and offers a wide variety of medical and surgical services."

The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. Hospital officials said they are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help health care organizations measure, assess, and improve performance. The Spine Center at the Miriam Hospital underwent rigorous unannounced onsite observations and interviews to achieve advanced accreditation, according to hospital officials.

"It is an honor for the Spine Center at the Miriam Hospital to be named an accredited center of excellence by the Joint Commission," hospital President Maria Ducharme said. "Being the first program in the region to earn advanced certification is a testament to the program’s incredible surgeons and staff. I’m proud to work alongside a team of talented and dedicated professionals who are truly devoted to their patients, research and delivering health with care."

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