East Georgia Regional Medical Center was named last week as one of the nation's "Top Performers on Key Quality Measures" by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America.
      East Georgia Regional was recognized by The Joint Commission for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, children's asthma, stroke, as well as inpatient psychiatric services.
      The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. The organizations identified as attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for the full previous year (2011) represent approximately 14 percent of Joint Commission-accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals that report core measure performance data.
      East Georgia Regional is one of 620 hospitals in the U.S. earning the distinction of Top Performer on Key Quality Measures for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance. The hospital was recognized for its achievement on the following measure sets: heart attack, heart failure,and pneumonia. The ratings are based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the 2011 calendar year. The list of Top Performers increased by 50 percent from its debut last year and represents 18 percent of accredited hospitals reporting data.
      This is the second year in a row that East Georgia Regional Medical Center is being recognized as a Top Performer. East Georgia Regional is one of only 244 hospitals that achieved the distinction two years in a row. Last year, the hospital was recognized for its achievement on the measure sets heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and child asthma care.
       "We understand that what matters most to patients at East Georgia Regional Medical Center is safe, effective care," said Bob Bigley, CEO for East Georgia Regional. "That's why East Georgia Regional Medical Center has made a commitment to accreditation and to positive patient outcomes through evidence-based care processes. It is all part of our commitment to always strive to put patients first. East Georgia Regional Medical Center is proud to be named to the list of The Joint Commission's Top Performers on Key Quality Measures."
      Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.
      The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest accrediting body in health care.
      The list of top performing hospitals and the measure set or sets for which the hospital was recognized are available online at http://www.jointcommission.org/accreditation/top_performers.aspx.