BONNIE BRAE ACHIEVES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE ACCREDITATION FROM THE JOINT COMMISSION

Bonnie Brae Chief Executive Officer Paul Rieger today announced Bonnie Brae has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective care.
Bonnie Brae underwent a rigorous onsite survey in mid-February. During the review, compliance with behavioral health care standards related to several areas, including care, treatment, and services; environment of care; leadership; and screening procedures for the early detection of imminent harm was evaluated. Onsite observations and interviews also were conducted.
Established in 1969, The Joint Commission’s Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program currently accredits more than 2,250 organizations for a three-year period. Accredited organizations provide treatment and services within a variety of settings across the care continuum for individuals who have mental health, addiction, eating disorder, intellectual/developmental disability, and/or child-welfare related needs.
“Joint Commission accreditation provides behavioral health care organizations with the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas related to the care of individuals and their families,” said Julia Finken, RN, BSN, MBA, CSSBB, CPHQ, executive director, Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “We commend Bonnie Brae for its efforts to elevate the standard of care it provides and to instill confidence in the community it serves.”
“Bonnie Brae is pleased to receive Behavioral Health Care Accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” added CEO Paul Rieger. “Staff from across Bonnie Brae’s comprehensive continuum of care continuously work together to maintain and achieve high standards of care as well as to develop and implement approaches and strategies that improve treatment for the youth served in our community. Having received/achieved accreditation since 1998, I am proud of the efforts put forth by our entire community to maintain this level of excellence.”
Bonnie Brae has served youth and families for 102 years. Ted Osborne, grandson of Bonnie Brae’s founder Judge Harry V. Osborne, joined Bonnie Brae’s leadership team and the surveyor for the presentation of findings. He shared, “This is an incredible achievement for Bonnie Brae. The surveyor was very complimentary about the care, treatment and services that are provided to the youth and stated that the ‘staff model really positive relationships.’ She was equally impressed with the facilities and grounds stating that ‘given the number of buildings, the size of the campus and multiple locations, the Environment of Care is in excellent shape.’ She indicated that Bonnie Brae should apply for two national “Lead Practices”: (1) the culture of staff caring for youth, building positive strength-based relationships and integrating youth into the community; and (2) the care and treatment of youth with significant health challenges, including diabetes. She recommended that Bonnie Brae apply to the Joint Commission to be recognized for these practices, something that only a handful of Behavioral Health organizations are invited to do.”
The Joint Commission’s behavioral health care standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, quality improvement measurement experts, and individuals and their families. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance. B
The Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.