UNC Children’s has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for the NC Children’s Allergy and Asthma Center through 2026 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 NC Children’s Allergy and Asthma Center is the only pediatric asthma program in the southeastern United States to be certified by the Joint Commission Certification and is only one of eleven programs with this distinction throughout the nation.
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.
UNC Children’s recently participated in an extensive review by a team of Joint Commission reviewers in which the program was evaluated on compliance with related certification standards through onsite observation and interviews. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that offers an unbiased assessment of quality achievement in patient care and safety.
The successful survey was the result of a comprehensive team effort. UNC Children’s interdisciplinary asthma team includes a variety of providers who collaborate to care for inpatients, outpatients, and children with acute and chronic conditions living in the community.
- Pediatric allergists
- Pediatric pulmonologists
- Certified asthma educators (AE-C®)
- Certified respiratory therapists (CRT)
- Spanish interpreters
- Care coordinators
- Social Workers
- Child Life Specialists
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 continues to be recognized in this way. In addition to the efforts of the NC Children’s Allergy and Asthma Center leaders, Dr. Ceila Loughlin and Dr. Michelle Hernandez, we are proud to recognize the extraordinary efforts of Ruth Medlin, Pediatric Asthma Program Manager in making this happen.“
For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website and the NC Children’s Allergy and Asthma Center website.