Florida Hospital Zephyrhills awarded Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement by The Joint Commission

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills (FHZ) is the first hospital in the State of Florida to earn 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.

FHZ underwent a rigorous onsite review in October. 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.

'Achieving Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement Certification recognizes Florida Hospital Zephyrhills' commitment to provide care in a safe and efficient manner for patients,' said Patrick Phelan, executive director, hospital business development, The Joint Commission. 'The advanced certification will help the hospital to better provide coordinated and comprehensive care to patients undergoing a total hip or total knee replacement.

''Congratulations to our staff and to the team of orthopedic surgeons who were the first in Florida to earn this advanced certification from The Joint Commission,' added Amanda Maggard, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills president and CEO.

Established in 2016 and awarded for a two-year period, the advanced certification was developed in response to the growing number of patients undergoing a total hip or total knee replacement surgery, as well as the increased focus on clinical evidence-based patient care as it relates to pain management, quality of life issues, functional limitation in mobility and the return to normal daily activities.