Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans (OMC-New Orleans) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Palliative Care Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
The certification recognizes OMC-New Orleans’ efforts to provide patient and family-centered care and to optimize the quality of life for adult and pediatric patients with serious illnesses. Palliative care addresses a patient’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs, and facilitates patient autonomy, access to information, and choice.
“Palliative Care Certification recognizes healthcare organizations commitment to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for palliative care patients.”
“Our goal for palliative medicine at Ochsner is to provide the best care possible for those with serious advanced illness,” said Susan Nelson, MD, system chair, palliative medicine and supportive care. “Our interdisciplinary team works tirelessly to deliver compassionate, timely and empathetic care to our patients and their family members. We are honored to receive this seal of approval from the Joint Commission as recognition for all the great efforts by our team.”