Recently, you may have received a letter from Anthem explaining that your TriHealth physician was Out of Network. Unfortunately, Anthem sent this letter in error and is working to correct as soon as possible. For now, we want to confirm that your TriHealth provider is still In-Network with your Anthem insurance. Please do not cancel any appointments or start searching for a new physician without consulting your insurance first.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We value you and are grateful for the trust you place in our TriHealth team to care for you and your family!
Good Samaritan Hospital Earns Advanced Spine Surgery Certification from The Joint Commission
Good Samaritan Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery (ACSS) by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. Good Samaritan Hospital is the first hospital in Ohio to achieve this certification. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
A close collaboration between Good Samaritan Hospital and Mayfield Brain & Spine, the region’s premier independent neurosurgery practice, spurred development of the spine surgery program. Mayfield neurosurgeons worked with the hospital’s clinical leadership to ensure the highest standards of clinical excellence and outcomes reporting.
The certification, offered in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, helps organizations provide consistent communication and collaboration among all health care providers involved in the care of the patient – from the pre-surgical consultation with the spine surgeon to the intraoperative, hospitalization or ambulatory surgery center admission, rehabilitation activities and then the follow-up visit with the surgeon.
“We are grateful to The Joint Commission for providing this latest proof point of TriHealth’s emergence as the region’s leading health system and a national model for getting health care right,” TriHealth President and CEO Mark Clement said. “Congratulations are also due to Good Samaritan Hospital’s Spine Surgery program team for their role in elevating the care we deliver to patients by advancing evidence-based clinical quality and outcomes.”
Dr. Zachary Tempel, a neurosurgeon at Mayfield Brain & Spine and chief of spine surgery at the TriHealth Spine Center, said collaboration among multiple clinical partners has promoted excellence at every level of care for patients.
“Patients benefit when health care providers invest in the surgical expertise, staff and equipment that is the backbone of elite spine care,” Dr. Tempel said. “The Joint Commission certification not only validates the meticulous process that we have developed to ensure the safety and efficacy of the spine care program, it also should give patients confidence that they can trust Good Samaritan Hospital with the full range of spine surgeries, from outpatient operations to multilevel spinal reconstructions.”
To be eligible for ACSS, organizations must implement evidence-based care and clinical practice guidelines and participate in the American Spine Registry, a national quality improvement registry for spine care. Additionally, organizations need to collect performance measurement data on surgical site infection rates, new neurological deficits, unplanned return visits to the operating room and pre-operative and post-operative patient reported outcomes.
The Good Samaritan Hospital underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on April 23rd and 24th of 2024. During the visit a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification standards. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewer also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery recognizes health care organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend The Good Samaritan Hospital of Cincinnati for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”
More about TriHealth
TriHealth is hospitals, physicians and the community working together to help people live better. We provide clinical, educational, preventive and social programs through Bethesda North, Bethesda Butler, Good Samaritan and McCullough-Hyde hospitals, and more than 140 other locations throughout Greater Cincinnati. This includes an ambulatory network, physician practices, research division, employer-based health services, hospice care and fitness and health facilities. Learn more at trihealth.com, Facebook.com/TriHealth, @TriHealth on Twitter and at YouTube.com/TriHealth.