MARTINSBURG, W.VA. – WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center has earned Perinatal Care Certification from The Joint Commission. The certification program recognizes Joint Commission-accredited hospitals committed to achieving integrated, coordinated, and patient-centered care for mothers and their newborns.
Berkeley Medical Center underwent a rigorous onsite review in July to assess its compliance with certification standards for perinatal care. During the review, Joint Commission experts completed an independent evaluation of Berkeley Medical Center’s perinatal healthcare services, as well as the following key requirements:
- Integrated, coordinated patient-centered care that starts with prenatal and continues through postpartum care
- Early identification of high-risk pregnancies and births
- Management of mothers’ and newborns’ risks at a level corresponding to the program’s capabilities
- Available patient education and information about perinatal care services
“Achieving Perinatal Care Certification recognizes an organization’s commitment to healthy mothers and healthy babies,” Wendi Roberts, R.N., M.S., C.L.N.C., executive director of certification programs for The Joint Commission, said. “The certification gives providers an unparalleled advantage when it comes to preparing mothers for labor and delivery, while also being able to help them if complications arise.”
According to WVU Medicine University Healthcare President and CEO Anthony P. Zelenka, the Perinatal Care Certification resulted from the hard work and dedication of the entire perinatal team and staff at Berkeley Medical Center.
“The Joint Commission surveyors were impressed with every aspect of our obstetrics service, including the level of care, our clean hospital, and the staff working together as medical teams to provide the best possible outcomes for our moms and babies,” he stated.
Perinatal Care Certification focuses on achieving integrated, coordinated, patient-centered care for clinically uncomplicated pregnancies and births. The certification program uses standards, guidelines, and The Joint Commission’s perinatal care core performance measures for managing and monitoring aspects of perinatal care that are critical to improving and maintaining the health of newborns and their mothers.
“By achieving this certification, we are focused on ongoing quality-improvement processes to improve care for mothers and newborns here in the Eastern Panhandle,” Zelenka said. “We are delighted to receive this honor. Congratulations to the entire department on a job well done.”
Established in 2015, Perinatal Care Certification is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited hospitals.