Myrtle Beach — Grand Strand Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Sepsis. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.
“We are excited to receive this Sepsis Center Certification from The Joint Commission,” states Dr. Andrew Schwartz, Chief Medical Officer for Grand Strand Health. “This certification proves our commitment to providing excellent care and prevention to our community.” According to the CDC, more than 1.5 million people get sepsis each year in the US.
Sepsis is the body responding to an infection and if not treated early, can lead to a medical emergency. Recognizing symptoms early is the key to survival. The Sepsis Alliance states that more than 258,000 lives are lost per year, ranking sepsis as the third leading cause of death in the US, after heart disease and cancer.
Grand Strand Medical Center underwent a rigorous on-site review in November. The Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards as well as with sepsis-specific requirements. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures also were assessed.
“Grand Strand Medical Center has thoroughly demonstrated a high level of care for patients with sepsis,” said Patrick Phelan, executive director, Hospital Business Development, The Joint Commission. “We commend them for becoming a leader in sepsis care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for sepsis patients in its community.”
Established in 2002 and awarded for a two-year period, The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care and addresses three core areas:
- Compliance with consensus-based national standards;
- Effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and
- An organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.
For more information about sepsis, the risk factors and symptoms, visit our sepsis information page.