News
Exigence Group-Managed Immediate Care Centers Receive Joint Commission Accreditation
02.15.2012
Immediate Care centers in New York and Texas join the highly select ranks of urgent care centers nationwide eligible to display the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval.
When patients, insurers, policy makers, regulators and medical professionals seek a comprehensive measure of a healthcare provider’s quality of care and safety for patients, there is one “gold standard” they rely on: Accreditation from The Joint Commission.
Today, the Exigence Group-managed Immediate Care facilities in Buffalo and Rochester, New York and Austin, Texas join the highly select ranks of urgent care centers nationwide to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission and are now allowed to display its Gold Seal of ApprovalTM.
Of the more than 8,700 urgent care centers in the United States, only a select few are accredited by The Joint Commission. Formerly known as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, The Joint Commission is widely regarded as the nation’s preeminent independent body for auditing and measuring quality of care and safety in healthcare; its designation of accreditation is highly valued by hospitals, laboratories and clinics nationwide.
The Urgent Care Association of America worked collaboratively with The Joint Commission in 2008 to establish this accreditation, which both entities recognize. For a list of urgent care centers currently holding Joint Commission accreditation, please go to the UCAOA page on accreditation.
Headquartered in Amherst, New York, The Exigence Group is a national healthcare management organization owned and managed by physicians. With clients throughout the United States, Exigence develops and manages Emergency Medicine, Hospitalist, Urgent Care, Occupational Medicine and Patient-Centered Medical Home programs. In addition, Exigence provides consulting services in areas such as emergency department design, information technology infrastructure, electronic medical record systems, on-call panels and more. www.theexigencegroup.com
“With this Joint Commission Gold Seal of ApprovalTM, we join an elite group of urgent care providers whose ability to deliver the highest level of patient care is formally recognized,” said Gregory F. Daniel, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, The Exigence Group. “We urge everyone—patients, insurers, regulators, policy makers and physicians—to consider this accreditation, and our commitment to the high quality of care it acknowledges, when making personal, patient-centered and policy decisions.”
As testament to its value, insurers and policymakers recognize Joint Commission accreditation when making decisions on licensing, certification and contracting. For example, many states waive routine on-site surveys of a facility if it maintains its Joint Commission accreditation. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recognizes Joint Commission accreditation as a factor for participation in CMS reimbursement programs.
“Organizations that strive for accreditation in ambulatory care from The Joint Commission are demonstrating the highest commitment to quality and safety to their patients, staff and their community,” says Michael Kulczycki, executive director, Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “I commend the Exigence-managed Immediate Care facilities for successfully achieving this pinnacle and for its dedication to continually improving patient care.”
About The Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve healthcare 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 evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 1,700 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and healthcare staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit 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.
