Harrison Hospital and Harrison Home Health have received full three-year accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). JCAHO establishes national standards and monitors the progress of healthcare organizations nationwide, including hospitals, assisted and long-term living facilities, home health organizations, clinics, laboratories and office-based surgery practices. Harrison has been accredited by JCAHO for over 30 years.

Harrison is among those who seek voluntary JCAHO accreditation by agreeing to be measured against national standards set by healthcare professionals and by continuously making efforts to improve the care and services they provide. The Joint Commission’s on-site surveys took place at Harrison in January with surveyors — a physician, healthcare administrator, and two registered nurses — visiting Harrison’s three campuses in Bremerton, Silverdale, and Port Orchard. Harrison Home Health was also included during this three-day survey.

JCAHO standards address the hospital’s level of performance in key areas, including patient care and service, patient rights, ethics, infection control, facilities, and leadership. In the category of National Quality Improvement Goals, Harrison scored above the performance of most accredited organizations for heart-attack care.

“We view our participation in this demanding review process as part of our unwavering commitment to the high standards in patient care,” says Dave Gitch, Harrison’s President and CEO. “Above all, the standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement to our performance and outcomes of care. Those we serve – indeed our entire community – can be proud – and confident – that Harrison continues to focus on the most challenging goal of continuously raising quality and safety to higher levels.”

Beginning July 15, information on specific organizations’ performance – including Harrison’s – will be available to the public on JCAHO’s website at www.jcaho.org.