Riverside Community Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care (ACPC) 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 recognizes The Birthplace at Riverside Community Hospital’s efforts to achieve integrated, coordinated and patient-centered prenatal through postpartum care, including for both complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies. The certification uses standards, guidelines and The Joint Commission’s perinatal care measure set for managing and monitoring aspects of perinatal care that are critical to improving and maintaining the health of newborns and their mothers.
Riverside Community Hospital underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on December 5 and 6, 2024. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including program management, supporting self-management, and delivering and facilitating clinical care. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend Riverside Community Hospital 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.”
“I am incredibly proud of the team that worked very hard to achieve the Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care,” says Peter Hemstead, chief executive officer of Riverside Community Hospital. “This took a village of our women’s & children’s leadership, quality, physicians, nursing and operations to bundle the amazing work we are doing for our mothers and infants to get a healthy start.”
To prepare for the survey, the Riverside Community Hospital team met regularly to ensure all clinical guidelines were instituted and current best practice. Through several interdisciplinary meetings, leadership reviewed practices surrounding lowering c-section rates, increasing breastfeeding, and positive outcomes for mothers and newborns. Riverside Community Hospital also partnered with community organizations that work with expecting and postpartum parents along with newborns. Successes form the survey were care navigation, (the perinatal nurse navigator, RN scheduler, and NICU path to discharge program), prenatal educational offerings, inpatient education, and highlighting positive patient outcome data.
For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.