AtlantiCare Commended for Efforts in Diabetic Care

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for advanced certification for Inpatient Diabetes Care. The seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. AtlantiCare is one of 81 organizations across the country, and four in New Jersey that have earned the certification.
The assertion recognizes healthcare organizations that provide clinical programs across the continuum of care for diabetes. This includes how organizations use clinical outcomes and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve care, and to prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge.
AtlantiCare underwent an onsite review April 29-30. During the visit, a reviewer from the Joint Commission evaluated the hospital’s compliance with related certification standards. This included how the team supports patients who have and are at risk for diabetes. Ways the team does so includes:
· Having a dedicated in-patient diabetes program team.
· Personalizing standard patient education to teach patients about managing diabetes.
· Using evidence-based treatment plans when caring for patients who have hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
· Providing education for all hospital clinical staff about the highest standards of care for diabetes.
“Whether a patient with diabetes is having elective joint replacement surgery or is admitted to the hospital after having a heart attack, he or she has unique needs,” stated Meaghan Kim, MHA, BSN, RN, CDE, director, Population Health, AtlantiCare. “Sometimes, patients learn they have diabetes when they’re in the hospital. Helping people manage their disease – along with their other health issues – in and out of the hospital is critical to healing and preventing complications, or other health issues.”
“Inpatient diabetes care certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” stated Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, the Joint Commission. “We commend AtlantiCare for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for patients.”