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Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner
Jennifer Moore, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Direct: 706-923-2028
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PUTNAM GENERAL HOSPITAL, NAVICENT HEALTH PARTNER
AWARDED LABORATORY ACCREDITATION FROM THE JOINT COMMISSION

Eatonton, GA July 22, 2015 - Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner (PGH) announced today that it has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® for Laboratory Services Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.

Putnam General Hospital underwent a rigorous, unannounced on-site survey on April 10, 2015. During the review, a Joint Commission expert surveyor evaluated compliance with laboratory standards related to several areas, including document and process control, healthcare-associated conditions, risk reduction, and staff qualifications and competency. The surveyor also conducted on-site observations and interviews. "Joint Commission Accreditation puts us ahead of the curve when it comes to quality and safety. We are confident, based on how we operate, that we are Joint Commission-ready at all times," said Pam Hopkins, PGH Laboratory Director. "The Joint Commission survey validated what I have observed in the daily care of patients since joining the team last year. The dedicated and caring staff in the PGH lab continues to surpass my expectations. Because of their commitment to providing top quality services and care, PGH continues to make a positive difference in the lives of our patients and our community."

The Joint Commission has accredited hospital laboratory services since 1979 and freestanding laboratories since 1995. More than 1,500 organizations, including laboratories in hospitals, reference labs, blood transfusion and donor centers, public health laboratories, and point-of-care test sites, currently maintain Laboratory Services Accreditation from The Joint Commission, awarded for a two-year cycle.

"Joint Commission accreditation provides laboratories with the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas from specimen collection to result reporting," said Stacy Olea, MT(ASCP), FACHE executive director, Laboratory Services Accreditation program, The Joint Commission. "We commend Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner for its efforts to have laboratory services contribute and support the overall health care delivery system."

"Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner is pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation," added Alan Horton, CEO. "Pathologists and other laboratory staff continue to work together to develop and implement approaches and strategies that have the potential to improve care for the patients in our community."

The Joint Commission's laboratory standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

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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 nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner
Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner (PGH) has proudly provided community based healthcare to Putnam County and the surrounding lake country since 1968. Putnam General Hospital is a Joint Commission Accredited 25-bed Critical Access Hospital and offers a comprehensive range of services: acute and skilled care; a full range of outpatient diagnostic, rehabilitation and physical therapy services; occupational health care; outpatient and general, minimally invasive surgery; radiology services; and a state-of-the-art 24-hour emergency room. Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner has been recognized for achieving consistently high levels of patient safety and quality patient outcomes by the Georgia Hospital Association and other rating agencies and was named a Coverdell Champion Hospital for Stroke Prevention and Care by the Georgia Coverdell Acute Stork Registry. For more information, please visit www.putnamgeneral.com.