[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 12, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              WEST VIRGINIA VA MEDICAL FACILITIES HONORED

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, today I am enormously proud to 
highlight the recognition of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Center in Huntington, in my home State of West Virginia, for excellence 
in health care delivery.
  The Huntington VA Medical Center has received accreditation from the 
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, JCAHO, 
as a result of meeting national health care standards. I am very 
pleased to see this VA health care provider in my home State receiving 
the accolades it so richly deserves for delivering a high standard of 
care to veterans.
  The Joint Commission, an independent, non-profit organization, is an 
accreditation body focused on ensuring quality and safety standards for 
health care on a national level. An on-site survey of the Huntington VA 
Medical Center, as well as its affiliated facilities, was conducted by 
the Joint Commission last November, giving Huntington an overall score 
of 98. Only about 4 percent of all of the facilities that the Joint 
Commission surveys receive scores of 98 or above a true testament to 
the quality of health care at the Huntington VA Medical Center.
  It is the administration and staff at the Huntington VA Medical 
Center that make it the superb facility it is. I recognize the hard 
work and tireless efforts of all the staff there: from the Director's 
office, maintenance workers, the food preparers, doctors, nurses, 
physician assistants and physical therapists, to the mental health 
treatment staff, specialized medicine, emergency, and geriatric care 
providers. The entire team has made the hospital a true model for 
quality health care delivery, not just within the VA health care 
system, but for the entire Nation. I, along with the veterans who 
receive care at Huntington, thank them for all they do, and encourage 
them to continue their good work.

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