Certifications and Awards
Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating healthcare organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.
United Regional underwent a rigorous, week-long on-site survey in 2022. We are proud to have again achieved a three-year accreditation status. Joint Commission accreditation means United Regional complies with the highest national standards for safety and quality of care and is committed to continually improving patient care.
Awards for Stroke and Heart Disease Care
The American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association’s (ASA) “Get With The Guidelines” program helps ensure the care that hospitals provide to their patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke meets the latest evidence-based guidelines. United Regional has been recognized for our commitment and success in performance achievement using the Get With The Guidelines program for stroke and cardiac care.
United Regional has received national recognition since 2010 from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.
Most recently, United Regional earned Stroke Gold Plus Award designation. This award recognizes hospitals for providing excellence in stroke care. This means that patients with stroke, coronary heart disease and heart failure may come to United Regional with the confidence that the care they will receive exceeds the national guidelines for program quality.
Primary Stroke Center Certification
United Regional is proud to have achieved the distinction as a Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center Certification. The Joint Commission’s Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. Achievement of certification signifies that the services we provide have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes. It is the best signal to our community that the quality care we provide is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients. United Regional treats approximately 600 stroke patients annually and serves as the hub of the area’s Stroke Network.
Level II Trauma Center
We are honored to have achieved verification of a Level II Trauma Facility from the American College of Surgeons. Our Level II Trauma designation was re-verified in 2022. This achievement recognizes United Regional’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients and substantiates that we provide not only the resources necessary for trauma care, but the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients, from the pre-hospital phase through the rehabilitation process.
American Diabetes Association
United Regional was awarded the American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for quality diabetes self-management education in 2017 and continues to earn this recognition annually. Recognition of our program assures that it meets the national standards and offers high quality education services for the patients we serve.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Certification
Since 2016, United Regional’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program has received national certification annually from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). This certification process recognizes programs that have been reviewed by the AACVPR national board and found to have met the rigorous requirements for standards of care.
Chest Pain Center with PCI and Heart Failure Program
United Regional has received the American College of Cardiology accreditation as a Chest Pain Center with PCI and Heart Failure Program. The ACC awards accreditation to facilities that have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of heart attack or heart failure. Emphasis is placed on standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with heart failure, chest pain and other cardiac related symptoms.
American College of Radiology Accreditations
The ACR awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standard after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy if facility equipment. The surveyors report their finding to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation.
Bariatric Surgery Accredited Center
In 2021, United Regional’s Bariatric Surgery Center received re-accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). Accredited Centers participate in a rigorous evaluation process that documents the comprehensiveness of the program and meets established program requirements for providing safe bariatric surgical care with excellent short- and long-term outcomes.
Pathway to Excellence Designation
In 2018 United Regional received the the Pathway to Excellence® re-designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The Pathway to Excellence designation confirms the professional satisfaction of nurses at United Regional and identifies it as one of the best places to work. To earn the Pathway to Excellence distinction, we underwent a thorough review process that documented the quality initiatives used in creating a positive work environment — as defined by nurses and supported by research.
Awards for Orthopedics
In 2021, United Regional received a 2-year re-certification for the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement.
The advanced certification is for Joint Commission-accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers seeking to elevate the quality, consistency and safety of their services and patient care.
Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with advanced disease-specific care standards and total hip and total knee replacement requirements, including orthopedic consultation, and pre-operative, intraoperative and post-surgical orthopedic surgeon follow-up care.
Level II Neonatal Facility Designation
United Regional Health Care System has been designated as a Level II Neonatal Facility (Special Care Nursery) in Perinatal Care Region-C from the Texas Department of State Health Services. This three-year state designation proves United Regional’s commitment to ensuring quality care for our neonatal patients. This designation also recognizes the skilled personnel who have documented training, competencies and specific annual continuing education.