Joint Commission Accreditation

OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group is fully accredited by The Joint Commission (JC).

JC is an independent, not-for-profit organization established more than 50 years ago to set the standards by which health care quality is measured in America and around the world. JC is governed by a board that includes physicians, nurses, and consumers.

JC evaluates the quality and safety of care for nearly 16,000 health care organizations. To maintain and earn accreditation, organizations must have an extensive on-site review by a team of JC health care professionals, at least once every three years. The purpose of the review is to evaluate the organization's performance in areas that affect your care. Accreditation may then be awarded based on how well the organizations met JC standards.

JC accreditation involves evaluating a health care organization's performance in areas that most affect patient health and safety. These areas are defined in JC standards. By achieving accreditation, a health care organization makes a commitment to follow JC standards, which provide the framework for safe, quality care.

Steps in the Accreditation Process

Step One
A healthcare organization applies for survey.

A team of JC surveyors conducts an on-site survey including:

• Opening conference with the organization's leaders.
• Tour facilities
• Talk to staff and patients and observe care being provided.
• Review patient charts, minutes, reports, logs, plans, policies and procedures.
• Provide educational services to improve compliance with the standards.
• Surveyors provide written report findings to organization leaders.

Step Two
JC's Central Office issues:

• An official survey report
• An accreditation decision
• JC follows up with organizations to ensure that the organization addressed all requirements for improvement.
• JC posts a performance report in Quality Check on the JC website.

An organization's accreditation is for three years. The only exception is for laboratories, which have a two-year accreditation. Accreditation is not automatically renewed. To become accredited again, an organization must reapply, participate in a survey, and demonstrate compliance with the standards.

Joint Commission Public Notice

OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, the OSF Healthcare System Board of Directors, and Administration of OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group and OSF Medical Group have chosen to be accredited by this voluntary organization, which deals with organizational quality of care issues and the safety of the environment in which care is provided, to assist in providing our patients with the greatest care and love. Therefore, if anyone has any unresolved patient safety or quality of care concern, he/she may contact the Joint Commission on Accreditation. The concern should be submitted in writing and addressed to: 

Division of Accreditation Operations
Office of Quality Monitoring
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Or faxed to 630-792-5636
Or e-mailed to complaint@jcaho.org 

Questions or Concerns?

The Mission of OSF Health Care is "to serve persons with the greatest care and love in a community that celebrates the gift of life." To fulfill that Mission, OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group strives to provide high quality healthcare to all who enter its doors. The Sisters, Administration and Staff of OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group are dedicated to practices that improve patient safety and ensure that our patients receive the very best care. Patients, family members, and visitors at OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group are encouraged to express their views about hospital services. While you are a patient at OSF St. Francis, please express any concerns you may have to the staff that are taking care of you. Ask to speak to a supervisor or manager if you feel that your questions have not been answered or if you still have concerns.

If you have questions or concerns related to your hospital experience after you have received care or discharged, please contact the Patient Representative.

The Patient Representative can be contacted at: 

OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group
3401 W. Ludington Street
Escanaba, MI 49829
Phone: (706) 786-5707 ext. 5516 

OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group will endeavor to answer your questions or resolve any of your concerns in a satisfactory manner. We look forward to continuing to meet your health care needs with high quality services in a safe environment.