St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson has been nationally recognized for its excellence in spine surgery, as shown by its recent awarding of The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery.
Hospital officials said the award underscores the hospital’s commitment to safer procedures, better recovery outcomes, and stronger continuity of care for patients. St. Dominic was the only Mississippi healthcare organization to receive the gold honor, which goes annually to hospitals that demonstrate exceptional quality, safety, and consistency in specialized spine care.
“We are excited to receive this prestigious recognition from The Joint Commission,” said Jeremy Tinnerello, president of St. Dominic’s parent company, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System. “This certification reflects the hospital’s ongoing dedication to maintaining the highest standards of healthcare quality and safety for all that we are privileged to serve.”
The advanced certification – offered in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons – focuses on ensuring seamless communication and coordination across every stage of a patient’s spine care. That includes pre-surgical evaluations, the procedure itself, hospital or ambulatory admissions, rehabilitation, and post-operative follow-ups.
To qualify for the advanced certification, hospitals must implement evidence-based clinical guidelines, participate in the American Spin Registry, and track key outcomes, including surgical site infections, new neurological deficits, unplanned returns to the operating room, and patient-reported improvements before and after surgery.
“Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery recognizes healthcare organizations committed in striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Ken Grubbs, executive vice president of accreditation with The Joint Commission. “We commend [St. Dominic] 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.”