The Villages^®, Fl.-- The Villages^® Regional Hospital announced that it has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval^® Core Certification for both Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement. The Gold Seal of Approval^® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.

The Villages^® Regional Hospital underwent a rigorous on-site review in January. The Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards and specific requirements for total hip replacement and total knee replacement. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures were also assessed.

"The Villages^® Regional Hospital is proud to receive this two-year certification from The Joint Commission," said Don Henderson, President and CEO of Central Florida Health, the not-for-profit healthcare organization comprised of The Villages^® Regional Hospital, Leesburg Regional Medical Center, and TVRH Rehabilitation Hospital. "We have always been known for the quality of our orthopedic care, and this accreditation validates and recognizes the considerable skill of the orthopedic surgeons, nurses, therapists, and numerous support personnel who all work together to provide excellent care for those patients requiring hip and/or knee replacement surgery."

The certification was achieved through staff involvement at all levels. The cohesive team approach was pivotal to the accreditation process. Three core areas were evaluated during the on-site review:

• Compliance with consensus-based national standards;
• Effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and
• An organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.

"The Villages^® Regional Hospital has thoroughly demonstrated a high level of care for patients who are in need of hip and/or knee replacement," said Patrick Phelan, executive with The Joint Commission. "We commend their team for becoming leaders in orthopedic care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for hip and knee replacement patients in the local community."