GOUVERNEUR – The new hospital entity in Gouverneur formed after the failure of E.J. Noble Hospital has achieved national accreditation just months after being re-established under the auspices of Canton-Potsdam Hospital in January.

Gouverneur Hospital has been accredited by DNV Healthcare, the only hospital accreditation program approved by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that integrates the ISO 9001 Quality Management System with the Medicare Conditions of Participation, according to a press release from the hospital.

“This represents a major step forward for our hospital and community,” said Gouverneur Hospital’s CEO Marlinda L. LaValley. “The DNV program is consistent with our long-term commitment to patient safety and total quality,” she said. “Major industries around the world are already familiar with the standards used by DNV. These standards applied to healthcare bring rigor and accountability not seen before in hospital quality ratings.”

DNV’s NIAHOR accreditation program requires hospitals to evaluate the continuum of patient care throughout its facilities and take measured steps to improve when it is warranted.

Canton-Potsdam Hospital acquired the former E.J. Noble Hospital in Gouverneur after the previous entity’s laboratory was shut by the state Health Department and the hospital failed.

Out of that, Gouverneur Hospital was formed and LaValley, formerly a high-level administrator at C-PH, was appointed to run the revivified medical center in Gouverneur.

“Our employees deserve a great deal of credit for achieving this high standard only six months after Gouverneur Hospital was established,” she said.

As part of the accreditation process following this initial review, DNV surveyors will visit GH annually. They will monitor the hospital’s adherence to patient safety criteria established by CMS, and evaluate processes that impact patient care across various departments and facilities of the hospital.

“DNV is very thorough and helps us find opportunities throughout the organization to improve every day,” says Director of Quality Mary Jane Gotham, RN.

Being accredited by DNV allows GH to receive reimbursement for its patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

GH will have three years to become compliant with the ISO 9001:2008 standards in order to maintain its accreditation with DNV.