Hunterdon Health Awarded Palliative Care Certification from The Joint Commission

Hunterdon Health has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Palliative Care Certification by demonstrating outstanding compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

The certification recognizes Hunterdon Health’s efforts to provide patient and family-centered care and to optimize the quality of life for adult and pediatric patients with serious illnesses. Palliative care addresses a patient’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs, and facilitates patient autonomy, access to information and choice.

“Hunterdon Palliative Care is specialized care that focuses on the whole person. It recognizes that people living with serious illness need expert symptom management, as well as spiritual and emotional support. Palliative care provides relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness, no matter what the diagnosis.  It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family,” stated Varun Doddapaneni, MD, Medical Director, Hunterdon Palliative Care. 

Hunterdon Health underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on November 16, 2022. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including program management, supporting self-management, and delivering and facilitating clinical care. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“Palliative Care Certification recognizes health care organizations' commitment to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Hunterdon Health for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for palliative care patients.”

For patients in the hospital, a palliative care consult may be requested by the physician in charge. For outpatients, please call 908-237-7018 to set up an appointment.