NKCH Earns Gold Seal of Approval for Cardiac, Orthopedic and Stroke Programs

North Kansas City Hospital is pleased to announce it earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and certification for Comprehensive Cardiac Center, Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, and Primary Stroke Center. Driven by the hospital’s commitment to enhanced patient care and safety, these recognitions distinguish these service lines on a national level.

“Achieving three national certifications in a short period of time reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals. We are committed to addressing the healthcare needs of our community at the highest level,” said Kerri Jenkins, NKCH’s chief operating officer.

The Joint Commission certifications were aggressively pursued over a short one-month period. Despite the challenges this presented, staff met the rigorous demands of TJC’s surveys. During the evaluation, surveyors talked with patients, doctors, nurses and support staff. They also closely reviewed NKCH’s processes, procedures, and documentation/closed records to determine the quality of care and evaluate compliance with TJC’s strict quality of care and patient safety standards.

The Joint Commission Certifications

Comprehensive Cardiac Center

Offered in collaboration with the American Heart Association, Comprehensive Cardiac Center certification demonstrates NKCH’s ability to deliver high-quality care at every patient touchpoint.

To earn CCC certification, organizations must:

• Demonstrate coordinated patient care
• Identify and treat high-risk patients early
• Meet or exceed the required number of heart procedures
• Provide proof of ongoing quality improvement
• Provide staff, patients and the community with ongoing cardiovascular disease education

Certified organizations must treat/help manage:

• Heart attack (acute myocardial infarction)
• Heart attack in which one of the heart’s main arteries is blocked (ST elevation myocardial infarction)
• Heart failure
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

Certified organizations must also provide the following services:

• Cardiac arrest resuscitation
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Diagnostic cardiac catheterization procedures
• Non-surgical treatment for narrowing of the heart’s coronary arteries (percutaneous coronary intervention)
• Valve replacement/repair

Aside from satisfying these requirements, NKCH was recognized for its multidisciplinary approach and investment in the program and its patients.

Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement

With TJC projecting a 174% increase in hip replacements and a 673% increase in knee replacements over the next two decades, high-quality orthopedic care is increasingly important.

NKCH was committed to providing safe and effective total knee and hip replacements prior to its recent certification. With a strong foundation already in place, the program was able to achieve Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement certification, a higher tier of TJC recognition held by just three Missouri hospitals and one Kansas hospital.

Offered in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the American Joint Replacement Registry, Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement certification required NKCH to demonstrate it has a comprehensive program that includes:

• Consistent communication and collaboration between healthcare providers
• A pre-surgery consultation with an orthopedic surgeon
• High-quality care during and after surgery
• A rehabilitation therapy plan
• A post-surgery follow-up visit with the orthopedic surgeon

In addition to satisfying these criteria, surveyors recognized the staff’s efficient communications and team engagement throughout the continuum of care.

Primary Stroke Center

Offered in collaboration with the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, this inpatient certification focuses on a hospital’s long-term success in improving outcomes for stroke patients.

Certified Primary Stroke Centers must:

• Designate beds for patients who need immediate stroke care
• Have a neurologist available 24/7, either in-person or by virtual visit
• Provide ongoing education for Emergency Department staff and prehospital personnel (first responders)
• Use evidence-based guidelines and a standardized method of delivering stroke care

Aside from demonstrating competency in the above areas, the program received praise for its high-quality stroke education for staff and patients.

TJC-Certified Programs

Certification from TJC, the nation’s top-certifying body, means a program or service line has successfully met very specific standards of safety and quality. Meeting these standards is important because it helps patients feel confident in the inpatient and outpatient care they receive. North Kansas City Hospital has been a TJC-accredited hospital since 1960. These three certifications are the latest examples of its commitment to excellence.

About The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve healthcare 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 accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit 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 jointcommission.org.