Fox Chase Awarded Gold Seal of Approval

By demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission's national standards for health-care quality and safety, Fox Chase Cancer Center has earned the organization's Gold Seal of Approval. Fox Chase takes part in the hospital accreditation process on a continuous basis. The Joint Commission surveys most hospitals every three years, but those participating in continuous accreditation efforts monitor and improve their efforts every day, not just in preparation for a survey, according to the Joint Commission.

"We sought continuous accreditation for our organization because we want to demonstrate our commitment to patients' safety and quality care," says James F. Lynch, vice president for hospital and medical science administration at Fox Chase. "We view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward achieving excellence."

"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 Darlene Christiansen, executive director of the Joint Commission's Hospital Accreditation Program.

The Joint Commission conducted an unannounced, four-day, on-site evaluation of Fox Chase Cancer Center last October. The Gold Seal of Approval accreditation award recognizes Fox Chase Cancer Center's dedication to complying with the Joint Commission's state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.