South Nassau First NY Hospital to Earn Wound Care Certification

South Nassau Communities Hospital was the first hospital in New York to earn Wound Care Certification from the Joint Commission earlier this month.

The certification was awarded to South Nassau for its compliance and continuous dedication to the national standards for health care quality and safety as recommended by the Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification Program.

Joint Commission certification and accreditation is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects a hospital’s commitment to meeting demanding performance standards. Joint Commission Wound Care Certification is available only to wound care programs in Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals.

"In achieving Joint Commission certification, we have demonstrated our commitment to the highest level of wound care for our patients with chronic, non-healing wounds," said Richard J. Murphy, president and CEO of South Nassau.

To earn the certification, South Nassau underwent a thorough and rigorous on-site review by surveyors with expertise in wound care. The certification is based on successful demonstrated compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients and families, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

"Joint Commission certification and accreditation complements the performance improvement initiatives that we implement so that South Nassau continues to fulfill its mission of providing standard-setting healthcare to the patients and communities we serve,” said Ruth Ragusa, RN, vice president of organizational effectiveness.

The curative rate of South Nassau’s wound care program is 95 percent, which is above the national average. The cure rate is a result of the program’s commitment to collaboration between the wound care staff and the patients and their families.

Types of wounds treated at South Nassau include non-healing wounds resulting from pressure, diabetes, venous insufficiency, traumatic wounds, radiation burns and arterial insufficiency.

The wound care staff conducts a thorough diagnosis of the wound and the patient and, in coordination with patient’s primary care physician, prescribes a carefully designed, patient-centered wound care treatment program.

The program features a staff of nurses certified in wound care treatment, physicians with extensive experience and training in wound care, and support personnel, including nutrition and pharmacy consultants, physical therapists, home care nurses and volunteers.