Freeport Home Medical Equipment (FHME) was awarded accreditation by The Joint Commission’s Home Care Accreditation Program and earned their coveted Gold Seal of Approval® for health care quality and safety. Receiving this designation demonstrates that FHME is committed to providing the best care to their patients, staff, and the communities they serve.
“We earned our first accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. in 2007,” says Carolyn Sluiter, president of Freeport Home Medical Equipment, “before it was mandated by Medicare, and we have continued to maintain their credential. This term I elected to go through the Joint Commission’s survey process in order to gain their Gold Seal of Approval®, which is more widely recognized by the general public.”
The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit, national body that oversees the safety and quality of health care and other services provided in accredited organizations. Since it’s founding in 1951, The Joint Commission has been acknowledged as the leader in developing the highest standards for quality and safety in the delivery of health care and evaluating organization performance based on these standards and is the only accrediting organization with the capability and experience to evaluate health care organizations across the continuum of care.
To earn and maintain this accreditation, a home care organization must undergo and pass an on-site survey by a Joint Commission surveyor. The objective of the survey is to evaluate the organization and provide education and guidance that will help the staff continue to improve the home care organization’s performance. The survey process focuses on evaluating care processes by tracing patients through the care, treatment, and services they receive. In addition to these patient “tracers,” surveyors conduct systems tracers to analyze key operational systems that directly impact the quality and safety of patient care.
Freeport Home Medical Equipment has two licensed Respiratory Care Practitioners on staff, as well as two licensed mastectomy fitters, and is the largest mastectomy boutique in northwest Illinois. Additional staff members are certified to fit and deliver a variety of specialty medical equipment and supplies ranging from wound care and urological supplies, compression wear, and mobility devices to lift chairs, ramps, bath and bedroom safety items, and aids to daily living. The company also rents and repairs equipment. Freeport Home Medical Equipment verifies insurance coverage before product delivery and provides written coverage information. The company accepts assignment for most covered products for many forms of insurance. Visit freeporthomemedical.com.
