The UNC Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for the NC Children’s Allergy and Asthma Center by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.The certification recognizes health care organizations that provide clinical programs across the continuum of care for children with asthma. The certification evaluates how organizations use clinical outcomes and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve care, as well as to educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge.
The UNC Medical Center recently underwent a rigorous onsite review. During the visit, Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including institutional support and delivering and facilitating clinical care. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
Certification of the NC Children’s Allergy and Asthma Center recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend UNC Children’s for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for pediatric asthma patients.”
According to Dr. Stephanie Davis, the Edward C. Curnen, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, and Physician in Chief, “UNC Children’s is so proud of the NC Children’s Allergy and Asthma Center. It is exciting that their long-standing commitment to the care and treatment of children has been recognized in this way. In addition to the efforts of the NC Children’s Allergy and Asthma Center leaders, Drs. Ceila Loughlin and Michelle Hernandez, we are proud to recognize the extraordinary efforts of Barbara Gwinn, Asthma Program RN Care Coordinator and Dr. Nicole Stephenson, UNC Pediatric Pulmonology Fellow, in making this happen.“
For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website and the NC Children’s Allergy and Asthma Center website.