Joint Center At Southwestern Medical Center Awarded Recertification For Advanced Total Hip And Total Knee Replacement

Southwestern Medical Center (SWMC) announced the Joint Center at Southwestern has been reaccredited by The Joint Commission for Advanced Total Hip & Total Knee Replacement. To date, SWMC is one of three facilities in the state of Oklahoma to hold this advanced certification. The advanced certification is for Joint Commission-accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers seeking to elevate the quality, consistency and safety of their services and patient care.

SWMC underwent a rigorous onsite review March 26-27, 2019. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with advanced disease-specific care standards and total hip and total knee replacement requirements, including orthopedic consultation, and pre-operative, intraoperative and post-surgical orthopedic surgeon follow-up care.

“This level of accreditation proves our team members at the Joint Center are providing joint replacement patients the best care possible,” said Kari Garza, senior director of physical medicine and rehabilitation services at Southwestern Medical Center. “The benefits of advanced certification include improving the quality of patient care by reducing variation in clinical processes, having a framework for program structure and management and giving objective assessments of clinical excellence.”

SWMC was the first in Southwest Oklahoma and second in the state to receive certification for Advanced Total Hip & Total Knee Replacement in 2017. Established in 2016 and awarded for a two-year period, The Joint Commission’s advanced certification was developed in response to the growing number of patients undergoing a total hip or total knee replacement surgery, as well as the increased focus on clinical evidence-based patient care as it relates to pain management, quality of life issues, functional limitation in mobility and the return to normal daily activities.

The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.