Lexington Health Care Center of Chicago Ridge Awarded Accreditation from Joint Commission

CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lexington Health Care Center of Chicago Ridge has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval™ for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety in long term care. The accreditation award recognizes Lexington's dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission's state of the art standards.

Lexington underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey in January 2012. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated Lexington for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of residents, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

"In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, Lexington has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its residents that goes above and beyond federal and state requirements," says Gina Zimmermann, M.S., senior executive director, Long Term Care Accreditation, The Joint Commission. "Accreditation is a voluntary process and I commend Lexington for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves."

The Joint Commission's Long Term Care Accreditation Program was established in 1966 and today accredits more than 1,000 organizations offering long term care and skilled nursing facility services. The Joint Commission's long term care standards address important functions relating to the care of residents and the management of long term care organizations. The standards are developed in consultation with long term care experts, providers, measurement experts and residents.

"With Joint Commission accreditation, we are making a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down. Joint Commission accreditation provides us a framework to take our organization to the next level and helps create a culture of excellence," says Dianna Yu, Vice President of Care Management. "Achieving Joint Commission accreditation, for our organization, is a major step toward maintaining excellence and continually improving the care we provide."

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 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 1,700 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. 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.

Lexington Health Care Centers, a subsidiary of Lexington Health Network, have been a part of the Chicagoland area since 1984, managing more than 2,000 skilled nursing beds in 10 different nursing and rehabilitation facilities. Lexington Health Network offers a full continuum of post-acute care, from postacute rehabilitation, memory care, long-term care, independent and assisted living, to home health care, hospice care and private care services. Together, Lexington Health Network employs more than 2,500 full and part-time employees who all work in unison to provide immeasurable value to the communities served. All of the facilities are located in the Chicagoland suburbs. Through its post-acute service network, Lexington excels in assisting patients in their transition back home. Many of its post-acute patients come from the hospital to strengthen themselves after a surgery or to continue to recover from illness or injury. Services are designed to aid in relaxation with quiet units to recover and amenities to please, coupled with state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment and therapy technology and a 90% return to home rate, Lexington Health Network is second to none. For more information, visit www.lexingtonhealth.com.

SOURCE Lexington Health Network