Saint Peter’s University Hospital has again earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Perinatal Care Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards, Saint Peter’s Health System announced.
The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care, the commission said. The certification recognizes Saint Peter’s efforts to achieve integrated, coordinated, patient-centered care for clinically uncomplicated pregnancies and births.
The certification uses standards, guidelines and the Joint Commission’s perinatal care core performance measures for managing and monitoring aspects of perinatal care that are critical to improving and maintaining the health of newborns and their mothers.
Saint Peter’s University Hospital recently underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review that included observations regarding clinical practice and patient care, as well as individual interviews. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with perinatal care standards spanning several areas, including care for high-risk births and birth complications. The Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients.
“Perinatal Care Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” Mark Pelletier, the chief operating officer of the Joint Commission, said. “We commend Saint Peter’s University Hospital for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for newborns and their mothers.”
Dr. Carlos Benito, maternal-fetal medicine specialist and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Saint Peter’s, said the hospital was proud to be honored.
“It’s truly an honor to receive perinatal recertification from the Joint Commission,” he said. “While Saint Peter’s is known as a regional leader in maternal health services, the Perinatal Care Certification offers third-party validation that we’ve achieved the highest-quality national standards for perinatal health.”
The Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission reinforces Saint Peter’s existing reputation as a statewide leader in comprehensive maternal and newborn health services. Saint Peter’s has a burgeoning list of distinctions and accolades:
- The hospital is home to New Jersey’s first state-designated Regional Perinatal Center, providing an exceptional level of high-risk maternity care for women experiencing complicated pregnancy and neonatal care for infants born premature or with serious medical issues.
- Saint Peter’s Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is well-known regionally for its expertise in providing premature and fragile infants with the highest level of care.
- Saint Peter’s is the only New Jersey hospital in the Council of Women’s and Infants’ Specialty Hospitals, and has held that member designation since 1997. CWISH is a collaborative of 14 hospitals across the country that works together to establish best practices in support of programs, and national policy for women’s and infants’ health care services.
- The hospital is home to the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center, New Jersey’s first hospital-based midwifery-led birth center where expectant mothers go for office visits, birthing classes and the birth of their baby.
- The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital is the only hospital in New Jersey to be ranked among the Top 50 Best Hospitals in Neonatology three times in a row by U.S. News & World Report.
- The hospital received the 2022 Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals for Obstetrics and Best Hospitals for Women’s Services.
