WRNMMC, Bethesda, MD  –   Walter Reed National Military Medical Center hosted the Joint Commission survey team Sept. 20-24 for WRNMMC’s triennial accreditation survey.
“I am happy to share this was an extremely successful survey,” stated Army Brig. Gen. Jack Davis, WRNMMC director, in a message to staff members Sept. 27.
“As we look back and consider why this engagement was so successful, I feel it important for us to remember all of the ongoing work, by so many, to advance high quality, safe care and to maintain our survey readiness. The surveyors were most impressed by you, our staff, with your comfortable professionalism, expertise and commitment on display each and every day,” Davis added.
Marion Martin, a registered nurse surveyor, led the JC team that assessed WRNMMC’s quality, safety and environment of care, as well as efficiency of administrative procedures. “I can’t tell you what an honor it was to be here, walk the halls and work with you,” she said.
“We think you’re pretty awesome,” Martin said to the WRNMMC staff. She noted “excellence in action” in a number of services and areas at WRNMMC, including: physician engagement; daily huddles among staff members throughout the hospital; infection control programs; COVID response and patient care, continual readiness, care of staff and community; antibiotic stewardship; emergency management; cleanliness of the organization; medication safety beyond the pharmacy; interdisciplinary team conferences; radiology documentation; suicide awareness and prevention initiatives; dog therapy; and inpatient behavioral health.
“We leave inspired and hope we left you with information that will enhance your continued journey to high reliability,” Martin added.
Navy Rear Adm. Anne Swap, director of the National Capital Region Market, said the WRNMMC staff “has done an amazing job keeping the eye on the ball in taking care of patients,” while not only going through the JC survey, but also supporting the Afghan mission and COVID operations. “You guys keep hitting it out of the park,” she added.
“This is an ongoing process,” Davis furthered. “One of the things I’ve always thought is it doesn’t matter when The Joint Commission gets here, because we’re going to be ready for them anyway. That’s exactly what happened this time, even with all the things that are going on.
“I think you should look in the mirror and be very proud [of the JC survey],” Davis said to the WRNMMC staff. “You should already be very proud of the mission you accomplish every day.”