Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick recently said it earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Bariatric Surgery Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards.
The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
This is the program’s third consecutive recertification. Only five hospitals in the U.S. have achieved this certification.
The certification recognizes health care organizations that provide clinical programs across the continuum of care for bariatric surgery. The certification evaluates how organizations use clinical outcomes and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve care, as well as to educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge.
RWJUH underwent a rigorous onsite review in February. During the visit, a surveyor evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including program management, supporting self-management and delivering and facilitating clinical care.
“Achieving this certification reflects this team’s skill, compassion and dedication to providing exceptional care for the whole patient throughout their individual bariatric surgery journeys,” Bill Arnold, CEO and president of RWJUH, said. “It affirms our program’s commitment to quality and patient safety, and the strength of our multidisciplinary approach to providing this specialty care, especially to high-risk patients, seeking an active, healthy lifestyle.”
The Bariatric Surgery Center at RWJUH offers a comprehensive medical and surgical program for both adults and adolescents dedicated to making a lifestyle change. RWJUH’s comprehensive bariatric surgery program not only includes surgical options but provides metabolic medicine and addresses individuals’ weight loss goals with medical and nutritional therapy.
In addition to this Joint Commission certification, RWJUH received the 2023 Excellence in Bariatric Surgery Award from Healthgrades and has been designated as a designated Center of Excellence in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery’s Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program.
