Martin's Point Health Care Awarded Accreditation From Joint Commission

PORTLAND, Maine - Martin's Point Health Care has achieved ambulatory care accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), a national, independent organization that sets standards for the health care industry.

"In becoming accredited, Martin's Point Health Care was evaluated against a set of national standards by a Joint Commission team experienced in the delivery of ambulatory health care services," says Michael Kulczycki, executive director of the Ambulatory Program for the Joint Commission. "Achieving accreditation demonstrates Martin's Point's commitment to provide high quality and safe care to its patients and a willingness to be measured against the highest standards of performance."

Headquartered in Portland at 331 Veranda St., Martin's Point has clinics in Portland, Brunswick and Windham, Maine, and in Portsmouth, N.H. where they serve nearly 50,000 patients in the areas of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, radiology, cardiology and mammography, as well as other fields.

An independent, non-profit organization located in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, the Joint Commission is the predominant standards setting and accrediting body in health care. Since 1975, the Joint Commission has developed state of the art standards for outpatient ambulatory care organizations. Accreditation by the Joint Commission is considered the Gold Standard of health care and organizations are evaluated on the following criteria:

• providing a safe environment for care; educating its patients about the risks and options for diagnosis and treatment;
  
• protection of patients' rights, including right to confidentiality;
  
• evaluation of patient conditions, before, during and after diagnosis and treatment;
  
• protection against infection; and
  
• planning for emergency situations.

Only 1,100 freestanding ambulatory care organizations nationwide maintain Joint Commission accreditation.

"We are honored and of course pleased with receiving re-accreditation for another three years from JCAHO. We strive for positive outcomes and excellence in care every day that we serve patients," said David Howes, M.D., president of Martin's Point Health Care. "Martin's Point pursues JCAHO accreditation on a voluntary basis, which reflects our deep commitment to excellence of clinical care and service. I am very proud of the hard work by our dedicated staff to prepare for the JCAHO site visit, as well as to meet the ongoing needs of our patients."

Established in 1981, Martin's Point Health Care serves patients who are covered under all major health plans and the U.S. Family Health Plan, the health benefit available to retired military and active duty dependants. The organization also has an extensive health education center. For additional information on Martin's Point, visit online at www.martinspoint.org.

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