February 25, 2013

Behavioral Health Care services rank among nation’s top 2,000 

Des Moines, IA – February 25, 2013 – Broadlawns Medical Center has received full accreditation and the Gold Seal of Approval™ from the Joint Commission. This honor puts Broadlawns among the top hospitals in the region as a provider of safe, high-quality care, treatment and services. The Joint Commission is an independent, nonprofit organization that certifies and accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations nationally.

The hospital’s accreditation will last into 2015 and exemplifies Broadlawns’ commitment to providing high-quality, low-cost health care to local residents. “By receiving full accreditation again, we demonstrate our commitment to provide the residents of Polk County with high-quality, low-cost health care that is at the very core of our mission,” said Jody Jenner, CEO of Broadlawns Medical Center. “Hearing from the accreditor that we are one of the best public hospitals in the nation was very gratifying. It fuels our passion to provide even higher quality care for the community.”

In addition to the accreditation for the entire hospital, Broadlawns also received accreditation for its Behavioral Health Care services. Broadlawns is among fewer than 2,000 hospitals in the nation to receive this honor.

The Joint Commission conducted an unannounced, on-site evaluation of Broadlawns Medical Center during three separate visits before awarding Broadlawns the Gold Seal of Approval for complying with the Joint Commission’s national standards on a continuous basis.

About Broadlawns

Broadlawns Medical Center first opened its doors as a hospital to the residents of Polk County on April 13, 1924. Over the years, Broadlawns has adapted to the changing demands of public health care, yet remained true to its mission of offering quality health services to all Polk County residents and training tomorrow’s health care professionals. Today Broadlawns Medical Center is comprised of:

• An acute care community hospital serving medical, surgical, mental health and primary care needs
• A 60-member physician practice overseeing numerous specialty clinics and outpatient services
• A Family Medicine Residency Program that graduates physician leaders who today serve in 59 of  Iowa’s 99 counties

 

About The Joint Commission

The Joint Commission’s 20,000 accredited and certified organizations are comprised of health care organizations and clinical programs across the continuum of care. Hospitals, critical access hospitals and providers of home care services make up the largest segments of organizations that seek Joint Commission accreditation to help strengthen their patient safety and quality of care provided. In addition, The Joint Commission accredits laboratories, ambulatory care facilities, long-term care facilities, office-based surgery centers and behavioral health care organizations. The Joint Commission also provides certification of health care staffing services and more than 2,400 organizations have earned Joint Commission certification in programs devoted to improving the care of patients with chronic diseases and conditions such as stroke, joint replacement, diabetes and heart failure.

View Downloadable PDF