Holston Valley Medical Center’s Every Step Joint Replacement Center earns certification from The Joint Commission; all three Ballad Health tertiary hospitals now hold honor
All three Ballad Health Every Step Joint Replacement Centers have now been recognized by The Joint Commission for achieving high clinical standards and serving patients with top-level quality care.
Recently, Holston Valley Medical Center’s Every Step Joint Replacement Center earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Total Hip and Total Knee Joint Replacement Certification, demonstrating continuous compliance with the commission’s performance guidelines. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a commitment to providing safe and high-quality patient care. The same honor is held by Bristol Regional Medical Center and Johnson City Medical Center, with Bristol Regional being one of only three programs in Tennessee to also earn an Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification.
The certification also recognizes healthcare organizations that provide clinical programs across the continuum of care for knee and hip joint replacement procedures, and it evaluates how organizations use clinical outcomes and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve care, as well as educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge.
“This designation speaks to the focus of our teams and their years of providing excellent care, affecting the lives of thousands of people who can now walk, move and live easier,” said Shannon Barker, corporate director of outpatient services for Ballad Health.
“We’ve developed a high standard across our system, and our hospitals have upheld it; in fact, the surveyor for Holston Valley felt the program behaved as though it had been certified previously, which is a testament to the commitment of our surgeons, support teams and all the team members. This is an accomplishment that makes us very proud.”
The Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. To earn its certification, Holston Valley’s Every Step Joint Replacement Center underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review earlier this year. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including program management and means of delivering and facilitating clinical care. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews with Ballad Health team members.
Following the review, team members, physicians and leaders at Holston Valley’s Every Step Joint Replacement Center achieved the designation without a single action-plan finding for the program. Furthermore, one surveyor even referred to the services provided in the clinical education and optimization process at Holston Valley as a “concierge” service for total joint patients.
“Excellence is not just an aspiration, it is a commitment for all of us,” said Bruce Miller, MD, an orthopedic surgery specialist at Holston Valley. “We are proud of the exemplary work accomplished by the team at our Every Step Joint Replacement Center to earn this designation. This achievement is the result of unified efforts, not just at Holston Valley, but across Ballad Health, to embrace the highest standards of quality and safety, ensuring every patient who walks through our doors receives the utmost care they deserve.
“And our journey does not end here. We will continue to raise the bar and embrace innovation and advance the care we deliver to our patients.”
Hallmarks of Ballad Health’s Every Step Joint Replacement Centers include a dedicated nurse coordinator who guides, supports and advocates for joint replacement patients through each phase of the process, from pre-surgical education to inpatient care and discharge and recovery; pre-surgery classes that prepare patients on what to expect throughout the process and their hospital stay; physical therapy seven days a week; tailored treatment plans that each patient’s needs; and strong partnerships with the region’s leading orthopedic surgeons and specialists.
“This certification recognizes healthcare programs that are committed to fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Deborah Ryan, MS, RN, who serves as the interim executive vice president for Accreditation and Certification Operations for The Joint Commission.
“We commend Ballad Health and Holston Valley Medical Center’s Total Joint Replacement Center for using certification to reduce variation during clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for patients seeking knee and hip replacement procedures.”
