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20th MDG earns The Joint Commissions Gold Seal of Approval

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  • By 20th Medical Group
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The 20th Medical Group has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its nationally-recognized standards, as well as Primary Care Medical Home Certification.

The 20th MDG underwent a rigorous, on-site survey in November.  During the survey, a team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated compliance with ambulatory care standards related to a variety of areas, including coordination of care, monitoring for procedures that involve the use of sedation or anesthesia, infection prevention and control, management of medications as well as patient education and training.  Additionally, surveyors assessed compliance with standards related to how effectively the primary care clinicians and the collaborative team work in partnership with patients to provide coordinated, thorough and patient-centered care. 

"Our Med Group is pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation," said Col. Curt Prichard, 20th MDG commander.  "Staff from across our organization continue to serve together to develop and implement approaches and strategies that have the potential to improve trusted care for our patients in the Team Shaw community."

The Joint Commission's ambulatory health care standards are developed in consultation with measurement experts, patients, and health care experts and providers. The standards are set by evaluating scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

Established in 1975, The Joint Commissions AHCA program encourages high quality patient care in all types of freestanding ambulatory care facilities. An estimated 2,100 organizations currently maintain Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation, awarded for a three-year period. 

"Ambulatory care organizations that pursue PCMH certification from The Joint Commission are demonstrating the highest commitment to delivering quality primary care in the ambulatory setting," said Michael Kulczycki, M.B.A., CAE, Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation program executive director. "We commend the 20th Medical Group for its efforts to become a quality improvement organization, and achieving this pinnacle demonstrating a commitment to patient safety and quality."