Doctors Hospital Awarded Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission

It is one of seven hospitals in the state, 66 hospitals in the nation, and the only one in the CSRA to achieve the certification for its total hip and total knee replacement programs. Hospital’s orthopedic services also achieve for second consecutive year a Clinical Excellence Award from HealthGrades.

Augusta, GA – Doctors Hospital has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission for its Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement programs. In addition, the hospital has achieved for the second year in a row a Clinical Excellence Award for its orthopedic services and a five-star rating again for its overall orthopedic services.

Doctors Hospital, a leader in orthopedic services in the CSRA, performs over 600 total joint replacements a year. To earn the disease specific certification from The Joint Commission, Doctors Hospital’s program had to undergo an extensive, on-site evaluation by a team of Joint Commission reviewers. The program is evaluated against Joint Commission standards through an assessment of the program’s processes, the program’s ability to evaluate and improve care within its own organization, and interviews with patients and staff. Doctors Hospital pursued this comprehensive, independent evaluation to enhance the safety and the quality of the care it provides.

Doctors Hospital has also received its second Clinical Excellence Award from HealthGrades. The nationally recognized healthcare ratings company has given Doctors Hospital five-star ratings for its overall orthopedic services, total knee replacement and hip fracture repair for the second consecutive year. The award again ranks Doctors Hospital in the top 10% in the nation for orthopedic services.

“We are honored to receive both The Joint Commission certification, and certainly, a Clinical Excellence Award, again, from HealthGrades,” says C. Shayne George, President/CEO of Doctors Hospital. “The real winner, though, are our patients and our community. We have an excellent team of physicians, nurses, therapists and other staff to help people keep the freedom of mobility,” he says.

About 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 more 8,000 hospitals and provides certification of more than 600 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

About Health Grades: HealthGrades offers, free to consumers, quality ratings of 27 procedures and treatments for virtually every hospital in the country. The Web site is designed so that consumers can easily compare patient outcomes at their local hospitals for procedures ranging from aortic aneurysm repair to bypass surgery. Each hospital receives a star rating based on its patient outcomes in terms of mortality or complication rates for each procedure or treatment. Hospitals with outcomes that are above average to a statistically significant degree receive a five-star rating. Hospitals with average outcomes receive a three-star rating, and hospitals with outcomes that are below average receive a one-star rating. Because no two hospitals or their patients’ risk profiles are alike, HealthGrades employs extensive risk-adjustment algorithms to ensure that it is making analogous comparisons.

About Doctors Hospital
Doctors Hospital is a full service medical/surgical facility, located in the heart of Augusta's fastest growing area, committed to quality healthcare services, advanced diagnostic/treatment technologies, and wellness resources. In addition to Orthopedics, Doctors Hospital specializes in Cancer Care, Women’s Services, and is home of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center, which cares for over 3,000 patients annually.