Bay Area Hospital earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for compliance with national standards for health care quality and safety, according to a hospital press release.

The accreditation award followed an unannounced, on-site evaluation.

The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation. The independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1951 is the nation’s oldest and largest standards setting and accrediting body in health care.

The evaluation was done in an unannounced four-day inspection in June 2007. Following evaluation and information exchanges, the commission announced it re-authorized accreditation in March.

The hospital’s Home Health Agency also achieved accreditation in a separate evaluation by a team of surveyors experienced in the delivery of home care services.

“Achieving accreditation demonstrates commitment to providing high quality and safe care to its clients, “said Maryanne Popovich, R.N., executive director of The Joint Commission’s Home Care Program.

The next unannounced survey by The Joint Commission of Bay Area Hospital and its Home Health Agency is scheduled in late 2010.