EMPORIA, VA – Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center (SVRMC) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in laboratories. The accreditation award recognizes SVRMC’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards.

SVRMC underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey in February, 2011. A Joint Commission expert surveyor evaluated SVRMC’s laboratory for compliance with standards of care that directly affect the quality and safety of diagnostic services and patient care.

"In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, SVRMC has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients," says Jennifer Rhamy, M.B.A., M.A., M.T. (ASCP) SBB, HP, Executive Director, Laboratory Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “Accreditation is a voluntary process and I commend SVRMC for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”

"Joint Commission accreditation creates a culture of excellence for continually improving the care we provide. I am proud of our team for their hard work in preparation for this survey,” said Brit Phelps, CEO.

The Joint Commission has been evaluating and accrediting laboratory services since 1979. Today, The Joint Commission accredits almost 2,000 organizations providing laboratory services. This represents almost 3,000 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment certificate laboratories, including independent reference labs and in vitro fertilization labs, and those connected with other health care organizations such as hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and long-term care facilities.

The Joint Commission’s laboratory standards emphasize the results a laboratory should achieve instead of emphasizing the technical methods of performing testing, and were developed with input from professional laboratory organizations. Joint Commission standards address processes that follow laboratory specimens from the doctor’s order into the laboratory from specimen collection then back to the patient through result reporting, focusing on the provision of high quality, safe laboratory services integrated with patient care. These standards highlight the essential nature of laboratory services on the actual care and service delivery processes that contribute to and support the overall health care delivery system.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care 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 evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit 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 www.jointcommission.org.

(Pictured L-R) Front Row - Wanda Phillips, Environmental Services, Vickie Michael, MT,
Technical Supervisor, Kristie Mitchell, Phleb., Joyace Doyle, Secretary, Nancy Well, MLT,
Takeda Stephens, Phleb., Lisa Wiant, RRT, Respiratory Clinical Coordinator,
Beth Parrish, RRT, RPSGT
Back Row - Antonia Satterfield, Phleb., Martha Tranka, MLT, Tykeisha Artis, MLT,
Dana Musser, MT, Gladys Bowser, MLT, Jay Ewing, Director
Not Pictured - Arletha Young, MLT, Cleo Clark, MLT, Patsy Stembridge, MT,
Candi Smith, Phleb., Pamela Smith, Phleb., Sherrasha Jones, Phleb.,
Brenda Cooke, Phleb., Susan Buckner, Phleb.