SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Regional West Medical Center has once again earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.

The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public by evaluating nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission awards accreditation for a three-year period to general, children’s, long-term acute, psychiatric, rehabilitation and specialty hospitals.

In September, Regional West Medical Center underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite survey. During the review, a team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated compliance with hospital standards related to several areas, including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, and medication management. Surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews of staff, medical staff and leadership to include board members.

“We are very pleased that The Joint Commission recognized Regional West Medical Center for multiple processes that may be deemed “best practice” by The Joint Commission. These are processes our staff has developed to deliver quality health care safely throughout our hospital,” said John Mentgen, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Regional West Health Services.

The items to be included by The Joint Commission as “best practices” are a systematic, data-driven approach to improving and maintaining safety and quality through practical and creative problem solving. Another best practice is development and continual updating of a regional community resource list to help patients access various services they may need upon discharge from the hospital. In all, The Joint Commission recommended submitting a total of six best practices to be reviewed.

“Joint Commission accreditation provides hospitals with the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas from the enhancement of staff education to the improvement of daily business operations. In addition, our accreditation helps hospitals enhance their risk management and risk reduction strategies,” said Mark G. Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission.

The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 182-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.