Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute at MidState Medical Center in Meriden became the first center in the country to receive the Joint Commission's advanced certification in spine surgery.
The Joint Commission's evaluation covers preoperative care and education, standardization of practices, procedures and patient care for patients, and pre- and postoperative consults with spine surgeons, as well as communication and collaboration among clinicians.
Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute also met the commission's care standards based on objective data collection guidelines, and it participates as required in the American Spine Registry, which measures clinical complications and outcomes.
"Our first-in-the-nation achievement of this certification is a testament to the exceptional, patient-centered, coordinated care for spinal surgery patients," said Joel Bauman, MD, chief of neurosurgery for Hartford HealthCare's Central Region, said in a Sept. 3 news release. "Our first-class multidisciplinary team has led the way to improved spine surgery experiences and outcomes."
Facilities must serve at least 200 spine patients to be eligible for the certification.
In July, the Joint Commission also awarded its "gold seal of approval" for advanced certification of total hip and knee replacement to the Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, which opened in February.