For the third consecutive time, Reading Hospital has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Accreditation. The recognition awards the Hospital's continuous compliance with Joint Commission performance standards. The certification is effective through February 2024. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization's commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
Reading Hospital underwent a rigorous, two-day survey. During the virtual survey, staff from the Joint Commission reviewed the Operating Room, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), therapy gym, nursing unit, and preadmission testing. The reviewers evaluated compliance with Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Accreditation standards spanning several areas including infection rates, fall rates, patient education prior to discharge, length of stay, early ambulation, and pain management.
Charles F. Barbera, MD, Reading Hospital President and CEO, said, "Providing safe, high-quality care to our community is our mission at Reading Hospital, and I commend the team for this prestigious recognition. Their commitment to the health and wellness of their patients is evident as they continue to accumulate accolades demonstrating their continuing provision of top-quality care."
The Joint Commission's standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help healthcare organizations measure, assess, and improve performance. The Total Hip and Knee Replacement certification program must meet core standards plus additional, clinically relevant requirements. The Advanced certification program goes beyond standard certification, requiring additional depth and detail.
"Reading Hospital continues to be one of the most technologically advanced surgical centers in the region," said Stephen Longenecker, MD, Medical Director, Reading Hospital Joint Care Center. "I'm proud to work alongside a team that is devoted to providing excellent care to our patients and the Advanced certification from the Joint Commission acknowledges their commitment to the community."
This is the sixth time Reading Hospital has earned the Joint Commission's Total Hip and Knee Replacement Accreditation. Reading Hospital first received the certification in January 2011.
About Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 697-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years (and moving up to America’s 50 Best Hospitals in 2022) and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.