Touching Hearts At Home Awarded Accreditation From The Joint Commission

Online, April 28, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Touching Hearts at Home, Northern Virginia recently completed its accreditation process with the Joint Commission and earned the 'Gold Seal of Approval'™. Touching Hearts underwent a rigorous on-site survey in February, 2011. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated Touching Hearts for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, emergency management, leadership and medication management.

Established in 1988, The Joint Commission's Home Care Accreditation Program accredits more than 5,600 organizations. The Joint Commission's standards address the home care organization's performance in specific areas, and specify requirements to ensure that patient care and services are provided in a safe manner. The Joint Commission develops its standards in consultation with health care experts, providers and researchers, as well as measurement experts, purchasers and consumers.

"In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, Touching Hearts at Home has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its clients," says Margherita Labson, R.N., executive director, Home Care Accreditation, The Joint Commission. "Accreditation is a voluntary process and I commend Touching Hearts for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves."

"With Joint Commission accreditation, we are making a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down. Joint Commission accreditation provides us a framework to take our organization to the next level and helps create a culture of excellence," says Cliff Glier, Owner Touching Hearts at Home. "Achieving Joint Commission accreditation, for our organization, is a major step toward maintaining excellence and continually improving the care we provide."

About The Joint Commission

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 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 1,700 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and 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.