Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

VA Efforts Honored

The Little Rock VA Medical Center has been recognized for its commitment to healthcare quality by the Joint Commission on Acreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

During a recent on-site survey of its Little Rock and North Little Rock hospitals, the VA Medical Center was awarded an overall score of 97 out of a possible 100, and received accrediation with commendation from the Joint Commission, which is the nation's oldest and largest accrediting body.

Of more than 5,000 hospitals surveyed by the Joint Commission, only 13% receive a score of 97 or greater, and only 12% are accredited with commendation.

"Receiving accreditation with commendation is a significant achievement, one that recognizes exemplary performance by the Little Rock VA Medical Center," Dennis S. O'Leary, M.D., president, Joint Commission, said. "The organization should be recommended for its commitment to providing quality care to the veterans of Arkansas."

"We are extremely proud to have achieved this designation," says George H. `Buzz' Gray Jr., director of Little Rock VA Medical Center. "It reflects the sincere commitment and hard work of our staff to provide the best possible healthcare to our patients, and to continually look for ways to improve our services."

The 890-bed VA Medical Center will celebrate its 75th Anniversary as a veterans healthcare facility in 1997.