January 24, 2017

Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital gains accreditation renewal

REGIONAL
Staff report

(IObserve photo/courtesy of Mercy Medical Center)

SPRINGFIELD – Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital, at Mercy Medical Center, has again been awarded accreditation by CARF International for its Inpatient Rehabilitation Program for Adults and Inpatient Rehabilitation Program for Children and Adolescents. The latest accreditation is the eighth consecutive three-year accreditation that the international accrediting body, CARF, has given to Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital.  

At the same time, Weldon has also gained accreditation for its Stroke Specialty Program, making it the only facility in western Massachusetts to achieve the distinction of delivering this high level of quality stroke rehabilitation. This is the third time that Weldon has achieved this recognition.

The accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a three-year accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an onsite visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable and of the highest quality.

“The CARF accreditation serves to assure patients seeking treatment at Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital that our facility continues to meet strict standards for quality and accountability, and these internationally-recognized standards emphasize an integrated and individualized approach to services and outcomes,” said Jill LeGates, director of rehabilitation services at Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital. “This important achievement also recognizes the entire Weldon staff, and members of the preparation work group, for their hard work and commitment to continuous quality improvement through the application of CARF standards.”

CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.

For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org.