(Sharon, PA) – April 3, 2017 – Sharon Region Medical Center today announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Laboratory Services Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.

Sharon Regional underwent a rigorous, 4-day onsite survey in late January. During the review, a Joint Commission expert surveyor evaluated compliance with laboratory standards related to several areas, including document and process control, healthcare-associated conditions, risk reduction, and staff qualifications and competency. The surveyor also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

The Joint Commission has accredited hospital laboratory services since 1979 and freestanding laboratories since 1995. More than 1,500 organizations, including laboratories in hospitals, reference labs, blood transfusion and donor centers, public health laboratories, and point-of-care test sites, currently maintain Laboratory Services Accreditation from The Joint Commission, awarded for a two-year cycle . In addition to Sharon Regional Medical Center, the accreditation includes the Cancer Care Center and Wound Center both located in Hermitage.

“Joint Commission accreditation provides laboratories with the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas from specimen collection to result reporting,” said Heather Hurley, executive director of Laboratory Business Development, The Joint Commission. “We commend Sharon Regional Medical Center for its efforts to have laboratory services contribute and support the overall health care delivery system.”

“Sharon Regional is pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” added Jason Roeback, MHA, Sharon Regional’s chief executive officer. “This achievement is indicative of the commitment by our employees and medical staff to ensure that quality processes are in place and that our entire organization is dedicated to the continuous review of safety initiatives that improve care for our patients.”

The Joint Commission’s laboratory standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

About Sharon Regional Medical Center
Sharon Regional Medical Center has provided health care services to the region for more than 120 years. Mercer County’s largest hospital and healthcare system consists of a 220-bed Joint Commission accredited hospital, along with 19 satellite centers in Sharon, Hermitage, and Mercer in PA and Hubbard and Brookfield in OH. Sharon Regional offers specialized services including; Behavioral Health, Breast Care, Cancer Care, Diabetes, Emergency Care with specialized stroke and heart attack care, certified chest pain center, primary stroke center, open heart/angioplasty/ heart care institute, Sleep Medicine, Sports Medicine, Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, School of Radiography, Women’s Center and Wound Recovery & Hyperbaric Medicine.

The Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at WWW.JOINTCOMMISSION.ORG.