Risk of Hazardous
Hospital Stays for
Parkinson’s Patients
Have Improved
Hackensack University Medical Center is first hospital in the
nation to obtain Disease Specific Certification Designation
for Parkinson’s disease from the Joint Commission
Several recent studies have revealed
a perilous vulnerability
for people with Parkinson's
disease who find themselves in the hospital
for one reason or another. Most patients
with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are
admitted to the hospital for non-Parkinson’s
reasons. No matter what the reason,
the results are often the same.
PD patients end up staying in the hospital
longer and can have more hospital related
complications than those who do
not have Parkinson’s disease. In an effort
to mitigate these hazardous circumstances
and affect change in the hospital care of
PD patients, a multidisciplinary team led
by Hooman Azmi, M.D., chief of Functional,
Restorative and Image Guided Neurosurgery
at Hackensack Meridian Health
Hackensack University Medical Center,
developed a program for improved care
of patients with Parkinson’s disease who
have been admitted to the hospital.
On June 15, 2018, Hackensack University
Medical Center announced it had
earned the Joint Commission certification
for its Parkinson’s disease program, achieving
distinction as the only Parkinson’s disease
acute care program in the country.
“I commend Dr. Azmi and his team for
this outstanding achievement,” said Ihor S.
Sawczuk, M.D., FACS, president of Hackensack
University Medical Center. “The
Joint Commission’s certification of our
Parkinson’s disease program is a reflection
of our medical center’s commitment to
provide excellent clinical treatment and
truly compassionate care to our patients
and their families.”
The Joint Commission for Accreditation
of Hospitals is an organization that
certifies and accredits hospitals in the U.S.
and internationally. Through their Disease
Specific Certification Accreditation, the
Joint Commission recognizes special expertise
in the care of a particular patient
population. While many hospitals have Disease
Specific Certification Designations
for various programs, Hackensack Meridian
Health Hackensack University Medical
Center is the first in the nation to obtain
this designation for the care of hospitalized
Parkinson’s patients.
“We are very proud of this program
which took years of dedication and hard
work from a large team,” said Dr. Azmi.
“Our shared mission has been elevation
of the care of patients with Parkinson’s
disease in the hospital, and while receiving
the accreditation is a great achievement,
our work is just beginning.”
The Joint Commission team conducted
a full day review at Hackensack
University Medical Center, including a
record survey, data session, competency
and credentialing session and team member
discussion specific to care received by
patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Surveyors remarked on particular excellence
in the education of team members
regarding the care of Parkinson’s
disease patients and team members’
breadth of knowledge on the subject. They
also commended the medical center for
undertaking the task of developing this
By Mara Quigley
BC Health, Beauty & Fitness 24
for Accreditation of Hospitals.