Erlanger Health System has earned Perinatal Care Certification from The Joint Commission. Erlanger is the second hospital in Tennessee to achieve this certification, which recognizes Joint Commission-accredited hospitals committed to achieving integrated, coordinated and patient-centered care for mothers and their newborns.
“Achieving this certification recognizes an organization’s commitment to healthy mothers and healthy babies,” said Wendi Roberts, RN, BA, MS, CLNC, executive director, Certification Programs, The Joint Commission. “The certification gives providers an unparalleled advantage when it comes to preparing mothers for labor and delivery, while also being able to help them if complications arise.”
Erlanger’s main hospital on Third Street and Erlanger East Hospital on Gunbarrel Road underwent separate, rigorous, onsite reviews to assess its compliance with certification standards for perinatal care. During the review, Joint Commission experts completed an independent evaluation of Erlanger’s perinatal health care services, focusing on the following key requirements:
- Integrated, coordinated patient-centered care that starts with prenatal and continues through postpartum care
- Early identification of high-risk pregnancies and births
- Appropriate management of mothers’ and newborns’ risks
- Patient education and information about perinatal care services, helping mothers make informed health care decisions
“We are delighted to receive Perinatal Care Certification from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” said Traci Josephsen, MSN, MSW, NP-C, RNC, Erlanger Clinical Administrator for Women's Services.
“By achieving this certification, we are focused on ongoing quality improvement processes to improve care for mothers and newborns,” added Lindsay Krcelic, MHA, Erlanger Assistant Vice President for Women’s and NICU Services.
Established in 2015, Perinatal Care Certification is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited hospitals.