Allina’s United Hospital earns Joint Commission diabetes certification

[Allina Newsroom, February 10, 2010] Allina Hospitals & Clinics’ United Hospital has once again earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ for health care quality. The Joint Commission, a national hospital accreditation agency, awarded United Hospital the Certification of Distinction for its Inpatient Diabetes care Inpatient Diabetes, one of only two hospitals in Minnesota to win such certification.

This is an important certification for United Hospital because it demonstrates our commitment to patient safety and clinical excellence," said Tomi Ryba, president, United Hospital. "Through rigorous monitoring and specific standards of care, we are seeing improved outcomes which ultimately lead to a better quality of life for our diabetic patients."

The Joint Commission's Certificate of Distinction for Inpatient Diabetes Care recognizes hospitals that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes across all inpatient settings. The Joint Commission and the American Diabetes Association have identified that the most successful inpatient diabetes programs possess the following critical attributes:

• Specific staff education requirements
• Written blood glucose monitoring protocols
• Plans for the treatment of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia
• Data collection of incidences of hypoglycemia
• Patient education on self-management of diabetes
• An identified program champion or program champion team

"To earn this distinction, our disease management program underwent an extensive, on-site evaluation by a team of Joint Commission reviewers," said Dr. Richard Shank, United Hospital’s Medical Director of Medicine Services. "The program is evaluated against Joint Commission standards through an assessment of a program’s processes, the program’s ability to evaluate and improve care within its own organization, and interviews with patients and staff."

The Joint Commission's inpatient Diabetes Certification Program is based on the ADA Clinical Practice Recommendations.  The Inpatient Diabetes Certification Addendum identifies how the ADA Clinical Practice Recommendations are tied into Joint Commission certification standards. For more information see Clinical Practice Recommendations on the ADA website.

In addition to Inpatient Diabetes Care, the Joint Commission has also awarded United Hospital Advanced Certification as  Primary Stroke Center, accredited United’s Behavioral Heath Care program and accredited United Hospital.

About the Joint Commission

An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 17,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.

About United Hospital

United Hospital, the largest hospital in the Twin Cities east metro area, is a non-profit hospital providing a full range of health care services to more than 200,000 people each year. United offers a wide range of health services including a birth center, cardiac care in the Nasseff Heart Center, emergency care, oncology, orthopedics, neurosciences and epilepsy, a pain center, rehabilitation, medical imaging and surgery. More information about the hospital, which is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, can be found on the Internet at www.unitedhospital.com.

Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit system of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates 11 hospitals, more than 90 clinics, and health care services, including home care, hospice care, palliative care, oxygen and medical equipment, pharmacies and emergency medical transportation.