St. Joseph receives highest rating

St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson announced yesterday that it has received accreditation with commendation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Chicago-based group that evaluates hospitals on a three-year cycle.

Only 12 percent of hospitals evaluated last year received accreditation with commendation, the highest rating available, the commission said.

When St. Joseph was last evaluated, in 1993, it received a rating of accreditation with recommendations for improvement, the commission's third-highest rating. For its latest evaluation, an accreditation team visited the hospital in June and July.

The 460-bed hospital is a member of Catholic Health Initiatives, a national network of 56 Catholic hospitals and health systems.

"Receiving accreditation with commendation confirms that we are indeed achieving our mission to provide loving service and compassionate care to our community," said John S. Prout, president and chief executive officer of St. Joseph. "It is a tremendous tribute to the dedication, professionalism and talent our entire staff."

Pub Date: 10/05/96

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