RWJ Hamilton Diabetes Self-Management Program Certified by Joint Commission

Second Hospital in the State of New Jersey to Receive Certification

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY - Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton has once again earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ for health care quality. The Joint Commission, a national hospital accreditation agency, awarded RWJ Hamilton the Disease-Specific Care Certification for its Diabetes Self-Management Program.

The Diabetes Self-Management Program offers outpatients one-on-one education centered on applying basic principles to manage diabetes in their everyday lives. Patients are referred by their doctor to meet with a certified diabetes educator to talk about their condition and get control, and have access to a registered dietitian to assist with meal planning.

RWJ Hamilton is the second hospital in the state and the only hospital in Central or Southern New Jersey to earn this distinction. To do so, a disease management program undergoes an extensive, unannounced, on-site evaluation by a team of Joint Commission reviewers every two years. 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.

"RWJ Hamilton voluntarily pursued this comprehensive, independent evaluation to enhance the safety and quality of care we provide," says Joyce Schwarz, vice president of quality at RWJ Hamilton. "We're proud to achieve this distinction." "This certification means RWJ Hamilton does the right things and does them well for diabetes outpatients," says Jean Range, MS, RN, CPHQ, executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission.

RWJ Hamilton's program has a well-established track record for offering quality care and education to its patients. The program was awarded an Education Recognition Certificate by the American Diabetes Association for three consecutive terms.

"The hospital's program follows both the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators guidelines for diabetes education," adds Patsaros. "The Joint Commission certification is a demonstration of our commitment to excellence." The Joint Commission launched its Disease-Specific Care Certification program in 2002. It is the first program of its kind in the country to certify disease management programs. A list of programs certified by the Joint Commission is available at www.jointcommission.org.

RWJ Hamilton previously earned the Gold Seal of Approval for health care quality for its Stroke Program.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.