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 continuous 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 Health underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on October 23, 2024. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including program management, certification standards, 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 striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend Hunterdon Health for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”

The Hunterdon Health Palliative Program provides a full range of services twenty-four hours a day seven days a week to evaluate and treat palliative care patients.  These include establishing goals of care, symptom management, supportive interventions and consultations, collaboration with the team to decrease unnecessary or unwanted interventions, provide patient and family with psychological and spiritual support, and facilitate the transition to alternative care settings to hospice or home care when appropriate. 

"With this Joint Commission certification, we are making a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down. Joint Commission accreditation provides us a framework to take our organization to the next level and helps create a culture of excellence,” says Christopher West, MD, Medical Director, Palliative Care, Hunterdon Health.  

For more information on Hunterdon Palliative Care, please call 908-237-7018 or visit https://www.hunterdonhealth.org/services/hunterdon-palliative-care.