The MIT Medical Department has received full accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) for another three years. The accreditation decision was based on a two-day November visit by a JCAHO survey team to MIT Medical's centers in Cambridge and Lexington.
"In becoming accredited, MIT Medical was evaluated against a set of national standards by a Joint Commission team experienced in the delivery of ambulatory health services," explained JCAHO vice president Linda Murphy-Knoll. Full accreditation demonstrates "MIT Medical's commitment to provide high-quality care to its patients."
"We are particularly pleased that the accreditation process went so smoothly right after opening MIT Medical/Lexington on the grounds of Lincoln Laboratory," said Medical Director Arnold N. Weinberg. "We seek Joint Commission accreditation because we want MIT Medical to be evaluated with the best institutions, and to be the best. Obtaining full accreditation is another step toward excellence."
"We had near-perfect scores for functions directly related to patient care," said Annette Jacobs, executive director of MIT Medical, who called the accreditation "proof of an organization-wide commitment to providing quality care.
"The public acknowledgment of our success coming from all corners of the campus has been most gratifying," she added. Ms. Jacobs reiterated her thanks to MIT Medical staff members who contributed to the effort. "You can all be proud of a job well done," she said.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on January 12, 2000.
