Health Care
— CARROLLWOOD, Fla. - AdventHealth Carrollwood in AdventHealth’s West Florida Division has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery (ACSS). The distinction reflects ongoing compliance with The Joint Commission’s performance standards.
AdventHealth Carrollwood’s team approach to whole-patient care and collaboration was highlighted with this honor. The certification is offered in partnership with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and it helps organizations provide consistent communication among all those involved in the care of the patient - from the pre-surgical consultation with the spine surgeon to the intraoperative, hospitalization or ambulatory surgery center admission, rehabilitation activities, and then the follow-up visit with the surgeon.
To be eligible for ACSS, organizations must implement evidence-based care and clinical practice guidelines and participate in the American Spine Registry, a national quality improvement registry for spine care. Additionally, organizations need to collect performance measurement data on surgical site infection rates, new neurological deficits, unplanned return visits to the operating room, and pre-operative and post-operative patient-reported outcomes.
“To be the first and only hospital in Florida with this certification is something that we strive for,” said Joe Johnson, president and CEO for AdventHealth Carrollwood. “We are committed to providing safe and quality care to all our patients, and this distinction means we are delivering on that promise to our community.”
“Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of accreditation and certification operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend AdventHealth Carrollwood for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”
During the rigorous and unannounced onsite review at AdventHealth Carrollwood, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification standards including clinical information management, program management, supporting self-management, and delivering or facilitating clinical care. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. The reviewer also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
This certification took effect on August 1, 2024, and is in place for up to 24 months.
For more information, visit The Joint Commission and Spine Care Services at AdventHealth Carrollwood.