Patewood Memorial Gets Gold Seal from Joint Commission

Submitted by Greenville  Health System

Greenville Health System’s Patewood Memorial Hospital has been awarded the Gold Seal of Approval by The Joint Commission for its total joint replacement program, involving knee, hip and shoulder replacements. Patewood Memorial is the only hospital in South Carolina to receive the commission’s Gold Seal for its shoulder replacement program.

This two-year certification recognizes Patewood Memorial for having all of the elements of a well-run disease management program.

“I believe achieving this distinguished Disease Specific Certification (DSC) for our total joint program is the result of an engaged, multidisciplinary staff, including our physicians who are committed to excellence in the patient experience,” said Beverly Haines, president of GHS’ Patewood Medical Campus. “The Patewood total joint program has consistently exceeded quality care outcomes and patient satisfaction expectations.”

In 2012, 288 total hip replacements were performed at the 72-bed, surgical short stay hospital, as well as 478 total knee replacements and 110 total shoulder replacements. All of those procedures were performed by surgeons with GHS’ Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas.

“I think this special distinction for our joint replacement program is well deserved by Patewood Memorial Hospital and the fantastic staff caring for our patients,” said Dr. Brian Burnikel, an orthopaedic surgeon. “Patewood Memorial’s quality of care and patient satisfaction scores are among the highest in the nation. This distinction, as well as the many other awards that Patewood Memorial has earned, should assure patients they are receiving the highest quality of care in the region.”

The Joint Commission’s certification process involves analyzing a hospital’s compliance with consensus-based national standards, effective and consistent use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and a review of performance measures specific to the hip, knee and shoulder.

One of the highlights of the Patewood Memorial joint replacement program is the time spent educating patients before surgery. Patients spend three hours watching a video of their upcoming procedure being performed before completing blood work, discussing discharge and physical therapy. 

Patewood Memorial’s laboratory and the overall hospital received Gold Seals of Approval from the Joint Commission in 2012. The hospital also recently received Studer Group’s evidenced-based leadership Healthcare Organization of the Month Award.

About The Joint Commission

The Joint Commission was founded in 1951 and it 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. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,600 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,600 other health care organizations that provide long-term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also certifies more than 2,400 disease-specific care programs such as stroke, heart failure, joint replacement and stroke rehabilitation and 400 health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

About Patewood Memorial Hospital 
Patewood Memorial Hospital is a 72-bed, surgical short stay hospital that is part of the Greenville Health System. The hospital opened in 2007 with the goal of clinically redesigning care delivery around the “patient experience.” Patewood Memorial Hospital consistently demonstrates the highest overall patient satisfaction scores in South Carolina based on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey tool. The hospital’s HCAHPS scores place it in the 99th percentile nationwide. 

About Greenville Health System
Greenville Health System (GHS) is committed to medical excellence through patient care, research and education. GHS offers patients a comprehensive network of expertise and technologies through its five medical campuses, tertiary medical center, research and education facilities, community hospitals, physician practices and numerous specialty services throughout upstate South Carolina. It also is home to one of the nation’s newest medical schools – University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. 

Among the largest healthcare networks in the Southeast, this not-for-profit system contains 1,268 beds, 14 medical residency and fellowship programs, and the state’s largest number of active clinical trials. Recent honors include being named one of the Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks, Top 50 Teaching Hospitals and 10 Best-led Hospitals. 

For more information, visit ghs.org.