K’ima:w Medical Center Earns Quality Re-accreditation

HOOPA – K’ima:w Medical Center received notification this past week of their continued accreditation by The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit national body that oversees the safety and quality of healthcare and other services provided in accredited organizations.

K’ima:w CEO Keith Dobbs stated the accreditation is nothing to take lightly.  “There are standards for quality, documentation of processes and procedures, training, safety, and so much more involved in this accreditation.”

He shared that to his knowledge, K’ima:w Medical Center is the only Indian Health facility in California with this high accreditation.

“It’s the kind of thing that when the survey teams walks unannounced in the front door, that employees stand at attention,” he said.  “It’s really a scary survey when the team of medical and safety professionals are drilling you to show documentation, or quizzing employees on the meaning of a code green or a code orange.”

Employees and healthcare providers spend years preparing for the survey.  Once accredited, the facility has to maintain and show constant quality and safety improvement.  The accreditation is valid for 36 months.

“It’s really a team effort.  Accolades to the whole group,” concluded Dobbs.

K’ima:w was awarded accreditation which includes ambulatory health care and dental, and behavioral health care.