CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Achieves Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification from The Joint Commission
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
The certification, offered in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, focuses on the pre-surgical orthopedic consultation to the intraoperative, hospitalization or ambulatory surgical center admission, rehabilitation activities, and follow-up visit with the orthopedic surgeon.
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review in May 2025. During the visit, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with 32 certification standards, including leadership and program oversight, interdisciplinary collaboration, clinical competency, evidence-based practice, care coordination and discharge planning, data tracking, and process improvement. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewer also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”
“I’m extremely proud of our entire team who made this certification possible,” said Kristen Blum, president, CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs. “From our orthopedic surgeons, anesthesia team, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, pharmacy, and beyond, it truly takes an admirable amount of dedication and excellence. This recognition is proof that our patients in Council Bluffs and surrounding southwest Iowa communities have access to the highest quality orthopedic care. Mercy Council Bluffs is committed to excellence, with this year marking our fourth re-certification since our original achievement in 2017. We remain the only hospital serving Iowa and Nebraska communities to achieve this.
CHI Health has recently expanded orthopedic services in southwest Iowa with a growing team of orthopedic physicians serving Council Bluffs and the surrounding communities. CHI Health aims to provide accessible, high quality care that allows patients to remain close to home for their healthcare needs.
For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.