Day Kimball Hospital (DKH) in Putnam has once again earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification. The Gold Seal of Approval® shows an organization is accredited and meets The Joint Commission’s highest standards of care.

Total hip and knee replacement certification is awarded for a two-year period to 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. The Joint Commission is America’s foremost independent and nonprofit healthcare accrediting agency.

“Our dedicated interdisciplinary team at Day Kimball Healthcare is honored to receive this award for the quality and safety of our joint replacement program,” said Kyle Kramer, chief executive officer, Day Kimball Healthcare. “We consistently strive to make patient safety, care treatment, and recovery a top priority. This recognition reflects the commitment of our orthopedic surgeons, nurses, and healthcare professionals to addressing the healthcare needs of our community at the highest level.”

Day Kimball Hospital underwent a rigorous virtual review in January 2021 to renew the certification, which it first received in 2012. During the review, a team of Joint Commission surveyors evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards and total hip and total knee replacement requirements. The reviewers also conducted virtual observations and interviews.

Established in 2002, The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care and addresses three core areas: compliance with consensus-based national standards, effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care, and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

With The Joint Commission projecting a 174% increase in hip replacements and a 673% increase in knee replacements over the next two decades, high-quality orthopedic care is increasingly important. Day Kimball Hospital’s orthopedic program is affiliated with extensively trained and board-certified orthopedic surgeons who perform hundreds of joint replacement procedures each year. DKH’s hip and knee replacement capabilities include Stryker’s Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgical System, a technology that allows surgeons enhanced planning for a more precise placement of joints.

“Earning this recertification is a major accomplishment,” said Kevin Reagan, MD, orthopedic surgeon, The Center for Bone and Joint Care and Day Kimball Hospital. “I am so proud of our multi-specialty team who works hard to provide every one of our joint replacement patients with high-level, personalized orthopedic care.”

For more information about joint replacement services at Day Kimball Hospital, visit www.daykimball.org/ortho.