SAMH Earns Gold Seal of Approval for Joint Replacement Program Certifications

HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital has announced that it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Joint Replacement Program Certifications. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. The certifications encompass the hospital’s total knee, total hip and total shoulder replacement surgery services.

St. Anthony’s underwent a rigorous on-site review in December 2015. A Joint Commission expert evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards as well as with joint replacement-specific requirements. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures also were assessed. The review examined pre-surgical preparation, surgical care, and post-surgical recovery and rehabilitation.

Established in 2002 and awarded for a two-year period, The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care and addresses three core areas:

• Compliance with consensus-based national standards;
• Effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and
• An organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.

"HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital has thoroughly demonstrated a high level of care for patients needing joint replacement,” said Wendi J. Roberts, RN, executive director, Certification Programs, The Joint Commission. “We commend St. Anthony’s for becoming a leader in joint replacements, potentially providing a higher standard of service for patients needing joint replacements in its community.”

One of the ways St. Anthony’s invested in elevating the level of care for those needing joint replacement by acquiring a MAKO® orthopedic system to offer patients robotic orthopedic surgery in spring 2015.  The robotic arm technology provides their talented orthopedic surgeons with the equipment necessary to perform partial knee replacements and full hip replacements. Using CT scans transferred into the system, surgeons are able to map out a plan based on the patient’s personal anatomy for the exact size and position of the knee or hip implant. It allows surgeons to target only the diseased portion of the joint, without compromising the healthy bone and tissue surrounding it by setting surgical boundaries, based on the pre-operative CT and the surgeon’s plan. The robotic surgery is providing patients shorter hospital stays, more rapid recovery, and lasting positive results.

"On behalf of the colleagues of St. Anthony’s, we are pleased to receive Disease-Specific Care Certification from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” added Theresa Rutherford, St. Anthony’s President and CEO. “This award is the result of a collaborative effort between our exceptional colleagues and the excellent orthopedic specialists of Bonutti Clinic. It truly takes teamwork to elevate the care we provide to those who come to Effingham and St. Anthony’s for their hip, knee or shoulder replacement, so this award would not be possible without our partnership with the area’s outstanding orthopedic surgeons,” she shared.  “Combined with our investment in the MAKO robotic orthopedic system, these certifications provide us with the framework to continue fulfilling our promise to create a culture of excellence for those who entrust us with their care.”

Peter M. Bonutti, MD, FACS, FAAOS, FAANA, shared, “The Bonutti Orthopedic Group has performed thousands of hip and knee arthroplasties over the last 25 years with a goal of providing the highest quality care for our patients.  This collaboration with St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital which includes dedication to patient care, investment in technology and infrastructure as well as overall integration of patient care has resulted in this recognition,” Dr. Bonutti said. “Our goal is to continue to improve the patient experience including now outpatient hip and knee arthroplasty.”

For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit St. Anthony’s Web site at stanthonyshospital.org.  HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is part of the Southern Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which also includes HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.