Summit Oaks Hospital
Summit Oaks Hospital Awarded Accreditation From the Joint Commision
December 20, 2008
By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety, Summit Oaks Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™.
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation. The Joint Commission’s on-site survey of Summit Oaks Hospital occurred in December 2008.
“In becoming accredited, Summit Oaks Hospital was evaluated against a set of national standards by a Joint Commission surveyor experienced in the delivery of behavioral health care services,” says Mary Cesare-Murphy, Ph.D., executive director, Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program, Joint Commission. “Achieving accreditation demonstrates Summit Oaks Hospital’s commitment to provide high and safe quality care.”
James Gallagher, Chief Executive officer for Summit Oaks says that accreditation shows that “We make a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down. We seek accreditation for our organization because we want to be the best and we view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward excellence.”
He notes that accreditation is attainable only through cooperation and communication among staff members. “Everyone at Summit Oaks Hospital plays a vital role in working to meet the standards. It gives them a feeling of prestige to work in an accredited organization,” says Gallagher. “They also appreciate the educational aspect of the survey and the opportunity to interact with The Joint Commission surveyor.”
Summit Oaks currently operates inpatient and intensive outpatient programs for adults, adolescents and children covering such diagnoses as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, dual diagnosis (for chemical dependency and mental health issues), post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and most other Axis II diagnoses as outlined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The facility also operates an inpatient rehabilitation unit for substance abuse/chemical dependency issues.
One of the longest free-standing psychiatric hospitals in New Jersey, Summit Oaks Hospital is a private psychiatric and chemical dependency center that serves the Northeast region with a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient services for adults, adolescents and children. Owned by Nashville-based Psychiatric Solutions, Inc., the facility is licensed by the state of New Jersey.