Accrediting agency recognizes performance of 3 Atlanta hospitals

By Carrie Teegardin

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Three Atlanta area hospitals have been recognized as some of the best performers in the nation for following protocols linked to good results.

The Joint Commission, the nation’s leading accrediting body for hospitals, named 405 hospitals nationwide in its list of top performers. The Atlanta area hospitals on the list are Atlanta Medical Center, the Atlanta VA Medical Center and North Fulton Regional Medical Center.

The list highlights hospitals that score well on 22 measures related to heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care and children’s asthma care. The measures examine performance on a range of accepted practices, such as how often heart attack patients were immediately given aspirin and how well the hospital followed infection-prevention protocols.

“We understand that what matters most to patients at AMC is safe, effective care," Atlanta Medical Center's CEO Bill Moore said in a statement. "That's why AMC has made a commitment to accreditation and to positive patient outcomes through evidence-based care processes."