|
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital’s Vascular Program is the first vascular center in the U.S. to earn the Gold Seal of Approval™ and Disease Specific Care (DSC) Certification from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) for excellence.
“This honor is the culmination of nearly 10 years of coordinated effort at Sentara by vascular surgeons and staff,”says Bruce Holstien, Administrator of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. “We voluntarily pursued this comprehensive evaluation to validate the quality of care we provide. We are raising the standard of care for vascular patients in the country and have compared ourselves to the nation’s finest vascular programs,” he continued.
JCAHO describes its certificate of distinction as recognition for providing uniform care and treatment to vascular patients, which leads to better outcomes.
According to JCAHO, the Disease Specific Care Certification follows a thorough, on-site review by evaluators, which follows the course of a typical patient. The reviewer asked questions of staff and checked adherence to clinical protocols, looked at details of treatment and documentation, interviewed physicians and patients, and went to advanced interventional suites to see our peripheral vascular angiography in action. This designation is not just a pat on the back. It demonstrates that a facility complies with national standards, employs performance measures to promote continuous improvement in health status; encourages interaction and communication among the provider team; and evaluates outcomes to assure quality where it counts.
“Patients can have piece of mind knowing they are being cared for by a team providing premier vascular care, recognized for its quality and patient safety excellence,” says vascular surgeon Marc H. Glickman, M.D, Sentara’s medical director of vascular services.
According to the American Heart Association, as many as 8 to 12 million Americans have peripheral artery disease. And nearly 75% of these do not have any symptoms. While it occurs in men and women, women are less likely to have symptoms. Risk factors for peripheral artery disease (PAD) include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and family history of heart or vascular disease. Risk increases after age 50.
About Sentara Norfolk General Hospital’s Vascular Program
Sentara Healthcare, a premier not-for-profit health care provider in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, serves nearly 2 million residents of Hampton Roads. The Sentara Vascular Program at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is an integrated network of highly trained physicians, specialty certified nurses and registered vascular technologists dedicated to serving residents of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Sentara offers comprehensive vascular services for all disorders involving the peripheral arteries and veins. More than 3,350 vascular surgeries and interventional procedures and 11,660 diagnostic vascular procedures are performed each year at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
|