King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Announces Laboratory Accreditation

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is pleased to announce its Department of Pathology has maintained its accreditation by being granted a further three-year accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI). As the only full service, JCI accredited laboratory in Bermuda, this achievement reflects BHB’s on-going commitment to quality patient care.

JCI is the international branch of Joint Commission Resources, a voluntary, independent organization established in the United States, setting standards for healthcare quality in the USA and around the world.

Venetta Symonds, Deputy CEO for BHB said, “We are proud of our dedicated pathology team. Laboratory professionals provide information that makes up 70% of patient medical records and plays a significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of illness and disease. Receiving accreditation brings credibility and recognition to the exemplary job being done every day in our laboratory.”

Although both hospitals received accreditation last year from Accreditation Canada, Kathy Stephens, Acting Department of Pathology Manager and Dr. Kered James, Chief of Pathology, decided to seek individual and specialized accreditation through JCI.

“This accreditation is of the highest standard,” said Dr. James. “After a rigorous assessment, conducted by highly trained and certified JCI surveyors, we are thrilled to achieve success in this undertaking. It is especially timely to receive this good news during Lab Week, an annual event focusing on the pathology department and the services we provide.”

JCI’s accreditation standards for clinical laboratories are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in daily performance and in the outcomes of patient care. Based on international consensus standards, JCI sets uniform, achievable expectations for hospitals. Accreditation provides a visible commitment to improving quality care, while ensuring a safe environment and reducing risks to patients and staff.

Ms. Stephens offered congratulations to staff for their accomplishment. “Lab staff work very hard and achieving accreditation reflects their commitment to quality patient care and service excellence.”

Ann K. Jacobson, Executive Director for International Accreditation at JCI praised hospital staff for their commitment to provide quality care on an ongoing basis. “The people of Bermuda should be proud that the Department of Pathology is focusing on this most challenging goal- to continuously raise quality to higher levels,” she stated.

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