Clara Maass Hospital Earns Nod For End-Of-Life Care

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville recently earned a “seal of approval” for serving patients with serious illnesses in its palliative care program.

The Joint Commission – an independent, nonprofit health care group – presented the hospital with a “Gold Seal of Approval” for helping patients cope with end-of-life healthcare matters, Clara Maass spokespeople announced last week.

Launched in 2011, the advanced certification is awarded for a two-year period, and recognizes inpatient programs that demonstrate “exceptional patient and family-centered care” and which “optimize the quality of life for adult and pediatric patients with serious illnesses.”

To be eligible for the advanced certification, organizations must have a full-time service where patients can access palliative care as needed, 24 hours per day, as well as the ability to provide palliative care to “the entire inpatient population.”

Prior to receiving the certification, Clara Maass Medical Center underwent an onsite review in October. The hospital received official notification of the award in December, administrators said.

“Clara Maass Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to serve patients diagnosed with a critical and debilitating illness in a safe, high quality and patient-focused environment,” said Patrick Phelan, executive director of hospital business development at The Joint Commission.

“We recognize and commend the medical center for its efforts to provide palliative care services while emphasizing patients’ physical, emotional and spiritual needs as they make end-of-life decisions,” Phelan said.

Mary Ellen Clyne, president and CEO at Clara Maass, said that the hospital was “very pleased” to receive the nod from The Joint Commission.

“The certification recognizes hospital inpatient programs and helps to further promote and advance the field of palliative care, ultimately improving the care for persons that require end-of-life care and treatment” Clyne added.

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