Evergreen Healthcare Is First in State to Earn Advanced Certification for Inpatient Diabetes Care

KIRKLAND, Wash., Feb. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Evergreen Healthcare has earned Advanced Certification in Inpatient Diabetes from The Joint Commission for its comprehensive diabetes treatment program, establishing it as Washington state's only program to currently hold the distinction.

The designation is awarded to hospitals that implement evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, incorporate nationally established best practices for successful models of care and use an interdisciplinary approach to patient education, glucose control and medication management.

Evergreen's multi-disciplinary diabetes steering committee guides its inpatient diabetes care program, which provides comprehensive diabetes care through education, glucose control and medication management to help patients self-manage their conditions after discharge.

This long-standing comprehensive approach to treating diabetes made the advanced certification possible through the leadership of Dr. James Colquhoun, medical director of the Evergreen Healthcare diabetes program, Kathleen Bouranova, diabetes program manager, and Kathy M. Schoenrock, director of quality management.

"We are incredibly proud to be the first hospital in Washington to earn this certification," said Dr.  Colquhoun.  "Our nursing staff achieved this special recognition for their ongoing commitment to the care of diabetic patients. Additionally, our diabetes nurse educators work closely with patients in the hopes that they will feel more confident about managing their diabetes at home after hospital discharge."

In its effort to certify top-performing organizations, The Joint Commission identifies a group of critical attributes for successful diabetes programs, which include staff education requirements, blood glucose monitoring protocols, treatment plans and data collection for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, patient education on self-management of diabetes and identification of a program champion team.

"Advanced certification for our comprehensive diabetes program is another example of our focus on delivering breakthrough care across our entire organization," said Evergreen Healthcare CEO Bob Malte.  "It is a tribute to the efforts of the dedicated staff in our diabetes program, as well as a symbol of our emphasis on achieving excellence in every facet of patient treatment."

The Joint Commission is an independent, non-profit organization that certifies and accredits healthcare organizations that are committed to providing quality care and outcomes by meeting specific performance standards.

To learn more about Evergreen Healthcare visit www.evergreenhealthcare.org or call the Evergreen Healthline at 425.899.3000. 

About The Joint Commission
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 evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

About Evergreen Healthcare
Evergreen Healthcare, a public hospital district and community-based healthcare organization established in 1972, offers a breadth of services and programs that is among the most comprehensive in the region. More than 950 physicians provide clinical excellence within more than 80 specialties, including  cardiac, oncology, surgical care, orthopedics, a Neuroscience Institute, Women's and Children's services, hospice care, pulmonary care, a Sleep Disorders Center and Home Health services care.  Evergreen serves more than 400,000 residents in its primary service area of northern King and southern Snohomish counties with Evergreen Medical Group, a network of primary and urgent care practices, and Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, its main hospital campus in Kirkland, Wash. Evergreen also provides emergency care at two sites; its main hospital campus and the Evergreen Redmond Medical Center.  In addition to clinical care, Evergreen offers extensive community health outreach and education programs, anchored by Evergreen Healthline, a 24/7 nurse consultation service. For more information, visit www.evergreenhealthcare.org.

CONTACTS:

Ken LeBlond
Evergreen Healthcare
Program Manager – Public Relations
425.899.1886

Kristi Clough
Firmani + Associates Inc.
206.443.9357
[email protected]

SOURCE Evergreen Healthcare