(Warren, Oh – July 8, 2016)  Accreditations and certifications – granted by organizations such as the Joint Commission, American College of Surgeons, Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care – indicate a hospital has met national standards in a certain discipline, and act as a testament to the caliber of their services.

Trumbull Memorial Hospital has received many accolades in the past year. “These are important affirmations for all of us here at Trumbull Memorial as we strive to be the best at what we do,” says John Walsh, chief executive officer. “Receiving these honors motivates us even more as we continue to work toward excellence in every aspect of the patient experience.”

It was recently announced that Trumbull Memorial is the first hospital in Ohio to achieve The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® for Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement.

The advanced certification means Trumbull Memorial is committed to providing care in a safe and efficient manner for its patients undergoing total joint replacement of the hip or knee. The certification is for Joint Commission-accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers seeking to elevate the quality, consistency and safety of their services and patient care.

Joint Commission experts visited the hospital and conducted a rigorous onsite review. They evaluated compliance with advanced disease-specific care standards and total hip and total knee replacement requirements, including orthopedic consultation, and pre-operative, intraoperative and post-surgical orthopedic surgeon follow-up care.

Established just this year and awarded for a two-year period, the advanced certification was developed in response to the growing number of patients undergoing a total hip or total knee replacement surgery, as well as the increased focus on clinical evidence-based patient care as it relates to pain management, quality of life issues, functional limitation in mobility and the return to normal daily activities.

“We are honored to be recognized by The Joint Commission for our joint replacement program,” said Julia Ballas, RN, ONC, orthopedic navigator and joint care coordinator at Trumbull Memorial’s Center for Joint Replacement. “Achieving the advanced certification will help us better provide coordinated, quality care to patients undergoing total hip or total knee replacement.”

Trumbull Memorial’s Center for Joint Replacement is a comprehensive program created to change the way patients and their families think about and experience hip and knee replacement surgery. Based on a national best practice model for hip and knee replacements and structured around the fundamental principles of wellness, the program has a customer service focus and is aimed at giving patients the knowledge and tools to make the transition from hospital to home as smooth as possible.

For information on orthopedic services at Trumbull Memorial, to learn more about joint replacement surgery or to register to attend an upcoming free seminar, call the Joint Care Coordinator at 330-841-9162.