Hackensack Meridian Health‘s Palisades Medical Center is the third hospital in the network to receive the Health Care Equity Certification from the Joint Commission. The certification indicates Hackensack Meridian Health’s efforts to address and improve health care equity across its network.
Palisades Medical Center underwent a rigorous onsite review to receive the certification. During the visit, Joint Commission surveyors evaluated over 40 program-specific standards.
“Our team members at Hackensack Meridian Health are dedicated to providing safe, equitable care to all of our communities. Achieving health equity is one of our network’s top priorities,” Robert Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, said. “We are pleased to have Palisades Medical Center join the networks’ list of hospitals, and achieve this important certification from the Joint Commission, and we look forward to continuing to advance health equity for our patients.”
To become certified, the Joint Commission requires health systems to have formalized structures in place to improve health equity across their facilities and serve as community collaborators to address areas of need. Organizations seeking this designation must collect, analyze and act on data points relating to patient care, patient communication, socioeconomic information, staff education and policies on various topics, including recruitment and retention.
“The Joint Commission’s Health Care Equity Certification is a testament to our team members’ dedicated commitment each and every day to providing outstanding, compassionate care to all of our patients,” Mark Sparta, president, Hackensack Meridian Health’s Northern Region, said. “New Jersey is one of the nation’s most diverse states, and this certification validates our longstanding efforts to eliminate health disparities and elevate the standard of care. We look forward to building upon this recognition to continue enhancing patient care for all.”
“Receiving the Joint Commission’s Health Care Equity Certification is a testament to our team members’ commitment to provide compassionate and equitable care to all of our patients,” Lisa Iachetti, president & chief hospital executive, Palisades Medical Center, said.
The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits more than 22,000 health care organizations and health care programs in the U.S.