CareSouth Carolina Achieves JCAHO Accreditation

CareSouth Carolina has once again earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in ambulatory care organizations. The accreditation award recognizes CareSouth Carolina’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards. CareSouth  Carolina joins only 20 ambulatory care facilities in the state with JCAHO accreditation

CareSouth Carolina underwent a rigorous unannounced four day on-site survey March 19 through 22. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated CareSouth Carolina for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.  CareSouth Carolina received its first three year accreditation by JCAHO in November of 2000.

Since 1975, The Joint Commission has developed state-of-the-art standards for outpatient ambulatory care organizations. Nearly 1,900 freestanding ambulatory care organizations maintain Joint Commission accreditation.

“Organizations that strive for accreditation in ambulatory care from The Joint Commission are demonstrating the highest commitment to quality and safety to their patients, staff and their community,” says Michael Kulczycki, executive director, Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “I commend CareSouth Carolina for successfully achieving this pinnacle and for its dedication to continually improving patient care.”

“We recognize Joint Commission accreditation as the Gold Seal for providing safe, high quality patient care,” says Ann Lewis, CEO at CareSouth Carolina.  “Receiving our first accreditation in 2000 wasn’t easy.  Maintaining the standards and processes necessary for keeping it is just as difficult.   Achieving accreditation from The Joint Commission is a team effort that will bring confidence to our patients and give us a framework to provide the best care possible.”

The Joint Commission’s ambulatory care standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and the management of an ambulatory care organization. The standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts and patients.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission 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.
CareSouth Carolina is a private, non-profit community-based corporation delivering patient-centered health and life services in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.  CareSouth Carolina operates centers in Bennettsville, Bishopville, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Hartsville, Lake View, McColl and Society Hill.  Services provided by CareSouth Carolina include family practice, women services, geriatrics, social services, clinical counseling, pharmaceutical services, laboratory and X-Ray.