Portsmouth, NH — Portsmouth Regional Hospital's Seacoast Family Care Services has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® for Perinatal Care Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization's commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
The certification recognizes PRH's Seacoast Family Care Services' efforts to achieve integrated, coordinated, patient-centered care for clinically uncomplicated pregnancies and births. The certification uses standards, guidelines and The Joint Commission's perinatal care core performance measures for managing and monitoring aspects of perinatal care that are critical to improving and maintaining the health of newborns and their mothers.
"We celebrate our team's formal perinatal certification as confirmation of the strength of its clinical processes, program structure, and management framework for Portsmouth Regional Hospital newborns and their mothers," said Dean Carucci, CEO of Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
Portsmouth Regional Hospital underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review last month. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including quality and patient safety program management such as the reduction of C-sections, an increase in the breastfeeding rate, and specialized care for newborns born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
"Perinatal Care Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care," said Mark Pelletier, R.N., chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission.
For more information, visit The Joint Commission website.