Achieves three-year accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with Joint Commission’s performance standards

BUFFALO, NEW YORK— Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation today announced it has earned its full hospital accreditation from Joint Commission, an independent, evidence-based standards setting organization that sets the benchmark for safe, high-quality patient care through healthcare accreditation. This accomplishment formally recognizes ECMC’s ongoing commitment to meeting rigorous performance standards and delivering the safest, highest quality care to its patients.

ECMCC Chair Eugenio Russi said, “On behalf of the ECMC Corporation Board of Directors, I thank the Joint Commission for this important accreditation that underscores ECMC’s strong adherence to rigorous national standards for the delivery of quality healthcare services. As important, I congratulate ECMC’s leadership team and all of the physicians, nurses, and staff who every day ensure the very best care for our community. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of our frontline caregivers, ECMC continues to evolve and grow, building on its strong legacy of clinical excellence. Surveys conducted by national entities like the Joint Commission, that lead to full hospital accreditation, is further evidence of the fulfillment of our mission – to provide every patient the highest quality of care delivered with compassion.”

ECMCC CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D., said, “Receiving the Joint Commission’s three-year accreditation is a significant accomplishment, which reflects ECMC’s overall exceptional quality of care. Throughout our nation’s network of healthcare institutions, Joint Commission accreditation is universally regarded as the national standard of excellence. The surveyors highlighted the commitment, dedication and kindness they observed among our caregivers, including an overall collaborative culture that pervades ECMC. They also noted we had very few findings for an organization as large and complex as ECMC. This national, third-party accreditation is further affirmation that our ECMC caregivers are providing high-quality healthcare services for the residents of our region.”

Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and Chief Nursing Officer, Joint Commission said, “Joint Commission congratulates (Organization Name) for achieving accreditation by demonstrating its focus on delivering safe and effective care of the highest quality and value,” says “Through the accreditation process, we worked closely with (Organization Name) to enable and affirm the highest standards of healthcare quality and patient safety. Together, we are elevating care for all patients, and we appreciate (Organization Name)’s collaboration throughout this process.”

ECMC underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite survey this past fall. During the review, a team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated compliance with hospital standards related to several areas, including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, and medication management. 

Joint Commission surveyors conducted on-site observations and interviews to identify performance strengths and opportunities for continued improvement. With decades of expertise and a data-driven accreditation process, Joint Commission helps ensure healthcare organizations adhere to leading quality and safety practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and commitment to better patient care.

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The Joint Commission: Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care 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 accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit 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.

ABOUT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (ECMC) CORPORATION:  The ECMC Corporation was established as a  New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has  included an advanced academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility.  ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo.  Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan. 

NEWS CONTACT: Peter K. Cutler – VP, Communications and External Affairs at 716-898-6505 or pcutler@ecmc.edu