W-B General 1st in Luzerne County to Earn Certification for Hip, Knee, Shoulder Replacement Surgery

6/30/2014

WILKES-BARRE, PA (July 1, 2014) – Wilkes-Barre General Hospital has become the first facility in Luzerne County to earn certification in hip, knee and shoulder replacement surgery by The Joint Commission, one of the leading agencies for quality and operating standards among health care providers.

The Joint Commission is one of the most stringent set of operating standards for health care facilities. Achieving and maintaining Joint Commission certification is a rigorous process – and a prestigious certification, reflecting a strong commitment to quality patient care.

Wilkes-Barre General Hospital underwent an unannounced, onsite survey by a team of Joint Commission surveyors which evaluated the orthopedic program for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

Wilkes-Barre General Hospital is only the second facility in the state and the seventh in the nation to earn the distinction for all three replacement surgeries – hip, knee and shoulder. The first was Regional Hospital of Scranton, also a Commonwealth Health facility.

“This proves that you do not have to travel outside the area to receive the best in health care,” Cor Catena, chief executive officer of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and Commonwealth Health, said. “In fact, why would you leave? The only two certified hospitals for these delicate operations are right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.”

The seal of approval of The Joint Commission is the gold standard in the health care industry, an internationally recognized symbol of health care quality, Catena said.

“It is a challenging certification to achieve and maintain, and evidence of our commitment to Luzerne County,” he said. “This certification gives us the ability to say we’re one of the best hospitals in the country.”

The certification process encompasses thousands of quality and safety measures in various hospital departments, and helps to promote continuous, systematic improvement among health care organizations. Hospitals are visited unannounced, and undergo an onsite survey by a team of Joint Commission experts that includes administrators, physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval is awarded to hospitals that demonstrate compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality. 

Catena credits teamwork for the achievement and said the surveyor specifically gave kudos to the team approach to patient care. 

“This is a great honor for our hospital and a testament to the skills of our surgeons, nurses, operating room personnel, technicians, therapists and all other team members who constantly strive for excellence in patient care,” he said.

The hospital’s orthopedic team is headed by Judy Ragukas, clinical director; Heather Proctor, clinical leader; and Mary Carol Montagna, orthopedic care navigator.