NCBH Receives High Honors from Joint Commission
Recognized As a Top Performer in Heart Failure and Pneumonia Care
Nov 04, 2013
The Joint Commission, an independent not-for-profit organization responsible for accrediting over 20,000 health care organizations nationwide, on October 31 recognized North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH) for its outstanding performance in treating patients with heart failure and pneumonia. The ratings are based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the 2012 calendar year. With over 33,000 hospitals providing data, NCBH, a member of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), was one of only 45 hospitals selected within the State of New York.
“The hospital strives to become one of the nation’s safest medical institutions and focuses daily on providing timely, evidence-based effective care,” said Vimala Ramasamy, MD, the hospital’s director of medicine. “Teamwork is key, from admission to discharge to follow-up we are committed to providing the best care possible.”
The hospital’s focus on quality patient care includes targeting pneumonia care by providing antibiotics within an hour of admission, reengineering the hospital’s discharge process for cardiac patients to provide quality education regarding medication management; and ensuring timely follow-up within seven days of discharge for outpatient appointment. Additionally, throughout the hospital regular multi-disciplinary rounds have been instituted to provide better coordination by all members of a patient’s medical team. The rounds include physicians, nurses, pharmacists, case managers and social workers.
“We want our friends and neighbors in the Northwest Bronx to know from the moment you walk through the doors of NCBH, you will have a world class experience with the best medical care available, anywhere,” said Bill Walsh, Executive Director of North Central Bronx Hospital. “The latest accolades from the Joint Commission serve to validate our efforts and the care provided by our expert medical team.”
In addition to being included in today’s release of The Joint Commission’s “Improving America’s Hospitals” annual report, will be recognized on The Joint Commission’s Quality Check website (www.qualitycheck.org). The Top Performer program will be featured in the December issues of The Joint Commission Perspectives and The Source.
Contact: Ian Michaels (HHC) (212) 788-3339
North Central Bronx Public Affairs(718) 918-4055
About NCBH
North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH) is part of HHC’s North Bronx Healthcare Network. A 215-bed community hospital, NCBH specializes in behavioral, geriatric primary care and ambulatory care services for women and children. Its renowned outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. As member facilities of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Jacobi and NCBH are committed to providing safe, high- quality medical care for any and all in need.
About HHC
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system with its own 420,000 member health plan, MetroPlusHealth, and is the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country. HHC serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. HHC Health and Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. HHC was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission’s John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nychhc.org/hhc or find us on facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or twitter.com/NYCHealthSystem.