Published on November 9, 2026 1:21 pm
Last Updated on November 9, 2026 1:21 pm
HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital has earned Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
The certification, offered in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, focuses on the pre-surgical orthopedic consultation to the intraoperative, hospitalization or ambulatory surgical center admission, rehabilitation activities, and follow-up visit with the orthopedic surgeon.
HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is one of two hospitals in Illinois (the other hospital being located in DeKalb, Illinois) to have achieved this advanced orthopedic certification. This marks the fifth time St. Anthony’s has earned the advanced certification, which it first received in 2018.
St. Anthony’s also once again received Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Orthopedic Certification for Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery. Advanced certification is not yet available for total shoulder replacement, so St. Anthony’s pursued and achieved basic recertification for that service.
St. Anthony’s underwent a rigorous on-site review Aug. 18-20, 2026. During the visit, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with certification standards, including a standardized, evidence-based approach to care grounded in clinical practice guidelines. The review covered the patient’s surgical experience, from preoperative evaluation and patient education through surgery, hospitalization, discharge and postdischarge follow-up care. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewer also conducted on-site observations and interviews.
“Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Ken Grubbs, Executive Vice President of Accreditation and Certification Operations and Chief Nursing Executive, Joint Commission. “We commend HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital for using Joint Commission’s 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.”
“We are pleased to once again have received advanced certification from the Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” said Angela Kelly, Director of Nursing and Integrated Services at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital. “Our entire orthopedic team – from our presurgical and surgery colleagues and orthopedic surgeons to those providing postoperative care and inpatient care to our therapy team – all did an amazing job preparing for this recertification survey. We seek these recertifications on behalf of our patients. We continue to set the standard for excellence in all that we do to provide high-quality, compassionate care close to home.”
