Maysville, KY.  (July 22nd, 2019) – Meadowview Regional Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Sepsis Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

The certification recognizes health care organizations that provide clinical programs across the continuum of care for sepsis. The certification evaluates how organizations use clinical outcomes and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve care, as well as to educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge.

Meadowview Regional Medical Center underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on May 24, 2019. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including clinical management, performance measurement, program management, supporting self-management, facilitating clinical care, and certification participation. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“Sepsis Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Meadowview Regional Medical Center for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for sepsis patients.”

“Our goal was to improve processes in Sepsis Care to our patients and to educate the community we serve, including our post-acute healthcare partners.  We started this journey in early 2018 and focused on several key areas for performance improvement.  First we wanted to make sure that all clinical providers recognized the signs and symptoms of sepsis according to the Surviving Sepsis Guidelines.  Additionally, we wanted to ensure that septic patients were receiving antibiotics timely, fluid resuscitation was individually managed, and patient education about sepsis was given to each patient in the facility regardless of diagnosis.  Our hospital staff, medical providers and community partners worked tirelessly in this process and we are extremely proud of earning Sepsis Certification, which is another step in achieving our Mission of Making Communities Healthier”, stated Lynda Skaggs, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer.