By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission‘s national standards for health care quality and safety, the Regional Medical Center of Orangeburg & Calhoun Counties has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™.

“Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization’s performance and the outcomes of care,” says Mark Pelletier, R.N., M.S, executive director, Hospital Programs, Accreditation and Certification Services, The Joint Commission. “The community should be proud that the Regional Medical Center is focusing on the most challenging goal—to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels.”

RMC President & CEO Tom Dandridge considers the accreditation "proof of an organization-wide commitment to provide quality care on an ongoing basis."

“We sought accreditation for our organization because we want to demonstrate our commitment to patients’ safety and quality care,” noted Dandridge. “We view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward achieving excellence.”

The Joint Commission conducted an unannounced, on-site evaluation of the Regional Medical Center on August 3-7, 2009. The accreditation award recognizes RMC’s dedication to complying with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of healthcare accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in healthcare organizations.

The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800 other healthcare organizations that provide long-term care, assisted living, behavioral healthcare, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. In addition, The Joint Commission provides certification of disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and healthcare staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare.