The Surgery Center of Fairbanks has been awarded the Gold Seal of Approval® and Certificate of Distinction for two programs of surgical service: Knee Joint Replacement and Spinal Surgery. These certifications are granted by The Joint Commission, the nation’s leading healthcare accreditation and certification organization, and are based on a rigorous review of compliance with national standards, clinical guidelines and outcomes of care. The recognitions follow numerous other national accreditations and awards received by The Surgery Center of Fairbanks.
The Center is among fewer than 150 medical facilities nationwide and one of only two in Alaska that have received the spine surgery distinction and among less than 450 centers across the US to hold the knee joint replacement certification.
“We are honored to receive these significant recognitions of our commitment to excellence in quality of care and patient safety,” said Dr. Mark Wade, president of The Surgery Center of Fairbanks. “It demonstrates the ongoing dedication of our clinical team to superior patient care. Through the use of advanced technology, less invasive techniques and personalized treatment, we are able to more quickly return patients to an active and fulfilling life.”
To receive the designation, organizations must successfully undergo a comprehensive onsite review by Joint Commission experts to evaluate compliance with specific care standards and knee replacement or spinal surgery requirements.
“The staff at The Surgery Center has demonstrated a continued and exceptional level of care for surgery patients,” said Kelli Hite McGee, The Surgery Center’s administrator. “We are proud to have received this recognition of The Center’s leadership in providing the highest level of service in spine and knee surgery in Alaska. The Surgery Center provides the opportunity for residents in the Interior and throughout the state to receive the most advanced surgical procedures without requiring travel away from home.”
The Surgery Center of Fairbanks has also received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for ambulatory surgery and was awarded the superior CNOR® Strong designation from the Competency & Credentialing Institute, Alaska first surgery center or hospital to achieve this certification.
The Center provides a broad range of general and specialized surgeries on an outpatient basis to Alaskans, treating issues from orthopedic and podiatric conditions to gynecological and neurological disorders.
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 more than 22,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including hospitals and health care organizations that provide ambulatory and office-based surgery, behavioral health, home health care, laboratory and nursing care center services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
