Dorothy Sawyer, CEO of Eastern State Hospital, credits her employees' hard work for achieving accreditation from the Joint Commission and certification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
In a news release, Eastern State Hospital announced it earned full accreditation by The Joint Commission. The institution added that it had received certification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for meeting the conditions of participation, which are regulations that set minimum health and safety standards for hospitals participating in Medicare.
Joey Frost, ESH director of organizational development/communications, said having CMS certification is a mandatory requirement and ensures the hospital receives federal funding, while the Joint Commission's accreditation process is voluntary.
According to its website, the commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.
"It's a rigorous process, the commission comes unannounced (every 36 months) and we want to make sure we are ready at all times," Frost said.
In the release, Carla Reyes, assistant secretary of DSHS's Behavioral Health Administration said she is "excited for Eastern State Hospital" and commended the work of its staff.
For hospital CEO Dorothy Sawyer, meeting these standards assures the community that the institution is providing care that meets approval from both the commission and CMS.
"We see that (meeting these standards) as critical for our community and the people we serve," Sawyer said.
Sawyer, who has been the hospital's leader since August 2013, said part of that work comes from the hospital's emphasis on safety for patients and employees, which she refers to as "creating a culture of safety."
"We have an unrelenting focus on patient safety and every employee is engaged in creating that culture," Sawyer said.
Sawyer and her staff emphasize improving their current practices and looking at hospital literature for new evidence to provide the best care for patients.
"If there's an issue, we examine it and look at how we can do that better," Sawyer said. "It's the same as any hospital."
Most of all, Sawyer credits the hard work from her employees, over 800, and the leadership team for the hospital's recent success.
'I'm proud of my employees," Sawyer said. "We don't get these results without employees who are engaged every day. I feel really good about the leadership team here at Eastern State Hospital."
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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