Genesis, Illini Campus earns accreditation from Joint Commission

SILVIS, Illinois - The Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus has achieved a full, three-year accreditation from the Joint Commission after demonstrating compliance with its nationally recognized health care standards.

The Joint Commission is the predominant standards setting and accrediting body in health care. The commission's accreditation is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality, and it surveys assess areas ranging from patient rights and treatment to infection control, medical errors, surgical complications and safety.

"Accreditation is like a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for hospitals," said James Lehman, M.D., Vice President of Quality at Genesis. "The Joint Commission provides us with a better evaluation of our care and services, looking at the full scope of patient care and delivery and how we are meeting the needs of the community."

The unannounced, three-day survey that concluded on Feb. 8 came at the height of flu season, in the midst of a snowstorm, and when the hospital was very busy. Despite the challenging circumstances, however, the surveyors walked away impressed.

"The Illini Campus staff, leadership and medical staff did an outstanding job," Dr. Lehman said. "The surveyors were very thorough and were quite complimentary to everyone who participated in the survey process."

To earn and maintain voluntary accreditation, a hospital must undergo an on-site survey by a Joint Commission survey team at least every three years. The Joint Commission began doing unannounced surveys in 2006.

"This was Illini's first unannounced survey. The rationale is that when you don't know when they're coming, you can't cram for the test. You have to be on your toes and constantly prepared," said Mike Staab, Director of Quality, Illini Campus. "It should be reassuring to consumers that health care organizations are in a constant state of readiness for any kind of a survey that would show how they are meeting the Joint Commission standards."

There's little time for the Illini Campus to rest on its laurels, Staab added. Joint Commission standards change constantly, so a hospital must continuously work to stay prepared and compliant.

"We owe much of our success to our Joint Prep Team," Staab said. "This group meets monthly and coordinates all of our accreditation activities. The team reviews the Joint Commission standards and works to ensure our hospital is always compliant. This group is like the hub of the wheel, always working on various standards and helping staff to prepare to meet them."

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