Fewer than 50 hospitals in the United States have been deemed a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital has made this selective list.
The Level 1 Designation by The American College of Surgeons (ACS) ensure that hospitals maintain quality improvement and safety processes. Level 1 verified hospitals must also seek constant improvement in processes and outcomes that take place within the facility. These multidisciplinary programs remain committed to appropriately training staff and leading others to ensure quality care of patients.
“Level 1 verification for children’s surgery tells families and physicians that a center has the expertise, facilities, capabilities and processes to provide safe, high-quality surgical care to children,” said Paul Danielson, M.D., FACS, chair of the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s. “The verification program is based on other nationally recognized American College of Surgeons programs that have measurably improved surgical quality and have prevented complications, reduced costs and saved lives.”
Johns Hopkins All Children’s is the only hospital in the Tampa Bay region to achieve Level 1 verification.
“This achievement recognizes the capabilities of our surgical programs and the team’s commitment to excellence,” said Alicia Schulhof, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital president. “It also acknowledges our role as an organization to be leaders for our region when it comes to safe and effective surgical care for kids.”
According to a Johns Hopkins press release, this verification comes after an ACS survey team assessed the site for a variety of measures. This included staffing, training and protocols, among other criteria.
“Level 1 verification represents a great achievement,” Danielson said. “I want to especially recognize Dr. Chandler and Alex for all of their efforts toward this goal.”
