O’Connor Hospital is the first hospital in Northern California to be awarded the coveted Gold Seal of Approval™ from the Joint Commission for its hip and knee Joint Replacement program.
This distinction assures consumers and purchasers that an organization is committed to quality and safety excellence, and signifies that O’Connor Hospital’s hip and knee replacement program meets a higher national standard for patient care, research and education.
"Certification means O’Connor Hospital achieved the most meticulous standards in health care and this reinforces our dedication to living our Mission," said Robert Curry, president and CEO of O‘Connor. "We have proven that our multi-disciplinary team of employees and physicians has the knowledge and clinical expertise to operate at this national level," said Curry.
There is only one other hospital in California that has been awarded this designation. To earn the Gold Seal of Approval, a clinical service or disease management program must undergo an extensive on site evaluation by a team of reviewers once every two years. The program is evaluated by the Joint Commission -- the nation's predominant standards setting and accrediting body in health care, evaluating nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the U.S.
"As a team, we pursued this certification because we want to demonstrate our commitment to a high standard of quality care to our patients,” said Jeffrey Anderson, MD, president of the Medical Staff and an orthopedic surgeon. “I am extremely proud of the excellent team of nurses, therapists and other staff who have shown the Joint Commission the superb service we provide."
In early 2007, O’Connor Hospital orthopedic surgeons recently began using emerging technology that has taken joint replacement surgery to a new level. The hospital acquired a surgical navigation system for their orthopedics program, one of only a few of its kind in San Jose. The Stryker computer-assisted surgical navigation system can improve outcomes for patients who are undergoing total joint replacement procedures.
“More people are in need of total joint replacement surgeries, given the aging population and obesity rates in this country,” said Deirdre Hegarty, BSN, RN, senior director of Medical/Surgical Services at O’Connor Hospital. "By using this navigation system at O’Connor, we are achieving our mission of serving the community through providing a program that enhances patient quality and safety with superior technology.”
Baby boomers today have higher expectations and don’t want to let a damaged knee or hip slow them down. They want to get back on the ski slopes, back on the jogging track and back to an active life. O’Connor President and CEO Curry, 54, remembers the last seven years as very sedentary, when in the past he was active and competitive in many sports. He recently underwent a bilateral knee replacement at O’Connor. “It wasn’t until after the surgery that I realized how much chronic pain I was in every day,” said Curry. “Three months after surgery and working with physical therapists, I was back in the gym riding the exercise bike. Even though I wasn’t much of a golfer before, I look forward to getting back on the links.”
The Joint Commission praised O’Connor for providing a high standard of care and excellent patient education throughout the process (including pre-hospital education, intra-hospital education and expectations after discharge), touting the team effort involved with each patient undergoing total joint replacement. Specifically noted as outstanding is that despite the very strict standards set by the Joint Commission, O’Connor Hospital’s program received not one finding or recommendation for improvement. “This represents a continuous commitment of our Board of Directors and recognition that delivering quality care is a team effort that takes constant vigilance and a desire to excel,” said Curry.
About the Joint Commission: Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800 other health care organizations that provide long term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities, and provides certification of disease-specific care programs and primary stroke centers.
About O’Connor Hospital: Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, O’Connor Hospital is an acute care, not-for-profit, Catholic community hospital that has served the South San Francisco Bay longer than any other hospital in the region. Key services at O’Connor include cardiology, oncology, mother-baby care, orthopedic services, vascular care, wound care and emergency services. O'Connor Hospital sponsors the Pediatric Center for Life, Parish Nursing programs, and the Stanford-affiliated Family Medicine Residency Program. The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission, the Department of Health Services and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. O’Connor is a Joint Commission designated Primary Stroke Center and a recipient of the 2006 Excellence in Patient Safety and Health Care Quality Award by The Leapfrog Group.