WCH childbirth program first in SC to earn Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval

GEORGETOWN, S.C. - Dec. 12, 2013 - PRLog -- Georgetown, S.C. -- Waccamaw Community Hospital has become one of only eight hospitals in the nation – and the first in South Carolina – to earn a Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for its childbirth program.

The certification, which was awarded after a rigorous site visit to the hospital earlier this month, recognizes WCH as a leader in best practices for the care of mothers and infants. Criteria for achieving a Joint Commission disease-specific certification are based on a program’s ability to demonstrate the use of clinical practice guidelines, collect and submit data on specific performance indicators and to demonstrate evidence-based practices in the delivery of care to a certain patient population.

“We are honored and pleased to have earned this recognition,” said Pam Maxwell, BSN, RN, vice president of operations and WCH administrator. “Our labor and delivery team works hard to deliver the safest and the best maternal and infant care possible, and this certification is proof we are achieving our goal. The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval makes a powerful statement to our community that Waccamaw Community Hospital strives to maintain the highest standards of care for our moms and babies.”

The prestigious designation is the second for WCH’s women and children’s services in the last six months. In May, WCH became the first hospital in South Carolina to earn the Baby-Friendly designation, a prestigious international award that recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer optimal care for mothers and their babies.

The women and children’s services floor at WCH has 19 beds. Last year, 585 babies were delivered at the facility.

The Gold Seal of Approval is the second such recognition for WCH. Along with its sister facility, Georgetown Memorial Hospital, WCH has also earned a Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for joint replacement.

Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission sets standards for patient safety and quality of care. More than 20,000 health care organizations use Joint Commission standards to guide how they administer care and continuously improve performance. The disease-specific care certification, established in 2002, has been achieved by more than 2,000 clinical programs nationwide. Certified programs must demonstrate a commitment to care delivery and ongoing performance and improvement through ongoing data collection and analysis.

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Georgetown Hospital System is a private, not-for-profit entity.  The system consists of Georgetown Memorial Hospital, Waccamaw Community Hospital and several facilities throughout Horry and Georgetown Counties.  For more information about Georgetown Hospital System, please visit our website at www.GeorgetownHospitalSystem.org.