NKCH and MH Earns Elite Certification for Perinatal Care

North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care. The health system received the honor by demonstrating continuous compliance with Joint Commission performance standards to provide safe and quality care for pregnant patients.

ACPC certification recognizes NKCH and MH’s efforts to achieve integrated, coordinated and patient-centered prenatal through postpartum care, including for complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies. The certification uses standards, guidelines and The Joint Commission’s perinatal care measure set for managing and monitoring aspects of perinatal care to improve and maintain the health of newborns and their mothers.

“Our Women’s Health Department has worked diligently to ensure we adhere to evidence-based guidelines,” said Dawn Heizman, MD, FACOG, an OBGYN with Meritas Health Pavilion for Women. “This certification signifies that NKCH and MH is providing the best comprehensive and quality care for our pregnant patients.”

The Joint Commission conducted a rigorous on-site review of NKCH and MH last October. During the visit, a team of experts evaluated compliance with related certification standards. Those include the following performance measures:

• Cesarean section
• Elective delivery
• Exclusive breast milk feeding
• Unexpected complications in term newborns

TJC standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted on-site observations and interviews.

“I am proud of our perinatal care team,” said Catherine Bonderer, MSN, MBA, RNC-OB, senior director of Maternal Child Health. “We want to continue to raise the bar for mother and newborn care. With the support of our administration, medical providers and multidisciplinary team, we led a concerted effort to make a difference for mothers and babies in our community.”

The Joint Commission also completed a comprehensive review of maternal and neonatal care services. In collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The Joint Commission verified NKCH and MH as a Level II maternal care facility in full compliance with state and federal guidelines. A Level II facility must meet all requirements for high-risk pregnancies and can detect, stabilize and manage unexpected maternal or neonatal problems until the patient can be transferred to a specialty facility.

Honored as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® by The Joint Commission, NKCH and MH also holds The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval and Certification for Comprehensive Cardiac Center, Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, Primary Stroke Center and Wound Care Management, as well as The Joint Commission Home Care Accreditation. The health system’s complete Quality Report is available here.