Joint Commission Survey at St. Elizabeth Hospital Successful

The Joint Commission, the national accrediting organization for hospitals, wrapped up a three and a half day visit to St. Elizabeth Hospital on Friday, January 18.  According to Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care, Leslie Norman, “this was the best survey that the hospital has ever had.”  

Overall, surveyors cited the hospital for only four “directs” and seven “indirects” during their visit.  Assistant Vice President of Quality, Caroline Conerly, who took the lead in preparations for the survey, noted that the number of citations, comparatively, was very low.  Of the “directs,” the hospital was already aware of each of them, and already had plans of corrective action.  All of the “indirects” were corrected before the surveyors left the building.

Surveyors found no issues at all with regard to the hospital’s compliance with National Patient Safety Goals.

Surveyors said they were, "very impressed." Both the nurse surveyor and the physician surveyor noted several times and independently of one another that, St. Elizabeth Hospital was “clearly a high-performing organization.”   During the exit conference, the surveyors said that, “it was truly a pleasure to survey an organization such as this,” and added it was a great way to start off the survey year.

President and CEO, Dee LeJeune, commended team members for the incredible job that they did during the survey, and noted that the hospital was clearly ready for a survey.  “Everyone should be proud of the outcome of the survey.  Thank you for a job well done.  You showed your pride and we finished strong.     LeJeune also praised the role that the physicians and members of the board played during the survey.  Surveyors verbally expressed that they were impressed with the level of participation by physicians and board members.  One surveyor said that he had never seen as many physicians participate as he did during St. Elizabeth’s survey.

Outgoing Board of Directors President, Hickley Waguespack, along with new Board President, Dr. Bill Martin, Vice  Chancellor of River Parishes Community College, were present every morning during the daily briefings, and were present during the leadership session and the exit conference.  “On behalf of the Board of Directors I want to congratulate all St. Elizabeth Team members for completing the survey process and for being described as an “exemplary” institution.  You don’t achieve at that level without months and years of continuous improvement,” said Martin.