Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Earns Spine and Joint Replacement ‘Gold Seal of Approval’

Fairfax, VA – (February 14, 2014) — Inova Fair Oaks Hospital’s Spine and Joint Replacement Surgery programs have earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for healthcare quality again. The Joint Commission awarded the hospital “Disease-Specific Care Certification” for its Cervical and Lumbar Spine Surgery, and Knee and Hip Joint-Replacement Surgery programs.

To earn this distinction, a disease management program undergoes an extensive, unannounced, on-site evaluation by a team of Joint Commission reviewers every two years. The program is evaluated against Joint Commission standards through an assessment of a program’s processes, the program’s ability to evaluate and improve care within its own organization, and interviews with patients and staff.

“Earning the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for Spine and Joint Replacement Surgeries is an accomplishment we are proud of. Our hospital voluntarily pursued this comprehensive, independent evaluation of both our spine and joint-replacement programs to demonstrate our commitment to excellence in providing disease specific care. This certification enhances the safety and quality of care we provide to our patients,” said John Fitzgerald, CEO of Inova Fair Oaks Hospital.

When the Joint Commission launched its “Disease-Specific Care Certification” program in 2002, it was the first program of its kind in the country to certify disease management programs. A list of programs certified by the Joint Commission is available at www.jointcommission.org.

Media Contact: Amy Richards, 703-391-3390, Amy.Richards@inova.org