Orthopedics

Spectrum Health Earns Gold Seal For Joint Replacement

Spectrum Health’s Center For Joint Replacement recently earned the Gold Seal of ApprovalTM for health care quality from The Joint Commission. Butterworth Hospital and Blodgett Hospital were both awarded with Disease-Specific Care Certification in both hip and knee replacement. Spectrum Health is the only health system in West Michigan to earn this distinction.

To receive certification, a disease management program undergoes an extensive, unannounced, on-site evaluation by a team of reviewers from The Joint Commission. The program is evaluated through an assessment of its processes, its ability to evaluate and improve care within its own organization, plus interviews with patients and staff.

“This certification means Spectrum Health does the right things and does them well for joint replacement patients,” said Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-
Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission.

“Spectrum Health voluntarily pursued this comprehensive, independent evaluation to enhance the safety and quality of care we provide,” said Charles Bukrey, M.D., medical director, orthopedics, Spectrum Health. “We’re proud to achieve this distinction,” added Deb Cress, director, orthopedics.

The Joint Commission launched its Disease-Specific Care Certification program in 2002. It is the first program of its kind in the country to certify disease management programs.

Joint replacement surgery is performed at both hospitals, although most procedures are done at Spectrum Health’s Center for Joint Replacement, located at Blodgett Hospital. Created in 2005, the Center for Joint Replacement features private rooms complete with furnishings and features helpful to orthopedic patients. The Center focuses on a thorough pre-and-post surgical education program.

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.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through its seven hospitals, more than 140 service sites and 565,000-member health plan, Priority Health.’Spectrum Health’s 13,000 employees, 1,400 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care to those in medical need.’The organization provided more than $100 million in community benefit during its 2006 fiscal year. Spectrum Health has earned more than 50 national awards during the past 10 years.