Capital Blue Cross Designated Blue Distinction® Center+ Maternity Care

Hospitals that received a Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care designation must be nationally accredited and meet requirements that align with principles that support evidence-based practices of care. These hospitals also initiated programs to promote successful breastfeeding, as described in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative by Baby-Friendly USA or the Mother-Friendly Hospital program by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services through its “Ten Steps of Mother-Friendly Care.” The program also evaluates hospitals on overall patient satisfaction, including a willingness to recommend the hospital to others.
Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ not only meet the qualifying standards in each area of specialty care, but also hold average cost-efficiencies of at least 20 percent per episode of care compared to other hospitals.

Baby-Friendly USA’s Baby-Friendly Designated Birth Facility 

Baby-Friendly USA’s Baby-Friendly Designated Birth Facility Baby-Friendly USA, Inc is the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (“BFHI”), a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal care level for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this prestigious international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence and skills needed to initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies successfully.

Centering Healthcare Institute’s Approved Centering Site

Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI) approved sites have successfully gone through CHI’s Site Approval process. Penn State Health St. Joseph centering program exhibits all the essential elements that define the Centering model of care. We also have solid plans for model sustainability that positively impacts healthy birth outcomes.

Healthgrades® Five - Star Recipient for Cesarean Section Delivery

Reflects better clinical outcomes at St. Joseph Medical Center than lower-rated health care facilities. (2021, 2022)

Commission of Cancer

The Commission on Cancer (CoC), a program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), recognizes cancer care programs for their commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality, and multidisciplinary patient-centered care. The CoC is dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care.

In 2018, St. Joseph Medical Center’s Cancer Center achieved Full Accreditation status from the Commission on Cancer®.

American College of Radiology: Radiation Oncology

The Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation Program provides third-party, impartial peer review and evaluation of patient care, staff, equipment, treatment planning and records, patient safety and quality control activities.

Quality Oncology Practice Initiative

Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) ASCO’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) is an oncologist-led, practice-based quality assessment program designed to promote excellence in cancer care by helping practices create a culture of self-examination and improvement.

St. Joseph Cancer Center earned QOPI recertification in August 2022.

Prevent Cancer Foundation®

This grant will reduce cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic barriers and improve access to breast health for Latinas in Reading, Pennsylvania, through targeted outreach, education and patient navigation. The program will use a promotora (community health worker) approach. The group aims to provide one-on-one and group education for 500 Latinas, as well as screening mammograms for 100 of these women.

Healthgrades® Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Sepsis

Reflects St. Joseph Medical Center’s dedication to delivering better-than-expected clinical outcomes for treatment of sepsis and distinguishes us as one of the nation’s leading hospitals for sepsis. (2021, 2022, 2023)

American Diabetes Association

Our Diabetes Self-Management Education Program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association for meeting the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Training.

Joint Commission Advanced Certification in Advanced Heart Failure

The Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification in Heart Failure recognizes centers that provide the highest quality of care for heart failure patients. Penn State Health St. Joseph received this certification in 2016.

American Heart Association 2023 Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award

Get With The Guidelines® puts the unparalleled expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping hospital care teams ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. Developed to save lives and help patients recover more quickly, Get With The Guidelines programs have impacted more than six million patients since 2001.

Hospitals receiving Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus Achievement Award have reached an aggressive goal of treating (heart failure or stroke) patients with 85 percent or higher compliance to core standard levels of care outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for 24 consecutive months. In addition, those hospitals have demonstrated 75 percent compliance to (four out of nine heart failure quality measures or seven out of ten stroke quality measures) during the 12-month period.

American Heart Association and Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care’s Mission: Lifeline Accreditation as a STEMI Receiving Center Accreditation

The timing for treating someone having a heart attack can mean the difference between life and death. To help save lives, the American Heart Association and the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care joined forces to create the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® Heart Attack Referring/Receiving Center Accreditation Program. The program recognizes hospitals that quickly and appropriately treat heart attack patients. The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® Heart Attack Referral/Receiving Accreditation Program recognizes centers that have demonstrated expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting stringent criteria.

Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Silver Plus Award

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center Silver Plus award recognizes St. Joseph Medical Center's commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing a specific type of heart attack known as an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), known to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks. Hospitals that earn the award must demonstrate a commitment to treating patients according to the most up-to-date research-based guidelines for STEMI care as outlined by the American Heart Association.

College of American Pathologists Laboratory Accreditation

The College of American Pathologists (CAP’s) Laboratory Accreditation Program accredits the entire spectrum of laboratory test disciplines with the most scientifically rigorous customized checklist requirements.

The CAP’s peer-based inspector model provides a unique balance of regulatory and educational coaching supported by the most respected worldwide pathology organization.

Intersocietal Accreditation Commission Re-Accreditation

The Penn State Health Non-Invasive Lab earned re-accreditation for three years in Vascular Testing in the areas of External Cerebrovascular Testing, Peripheral Venous Testing and Peripheral Arterial Testing by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).

The IAC accreditation certifies that St. Joseph’s Vascular Diagnostic Service has undergone an intensive application and review process and is found to be in compliance with the published Standards, demonstrating a commitment to quality patient care in vascular testing. The IAC includes a detailed self-evaluation followed by a thorough review by a panel of medical experts. This ensures that the accreditation process enables both the critical operational and technical components of the applicant facility to be assessed and includes representative case studies and their corresponding final reports.

Healthgrades® Pulmonary Care Excellence Award^TM

Recognizes St. Joseph Medical Center for delivering superior patient outcomes in the care and treatment of pulmonary issues. (2022, 2023)

American College of Radiology: Lung Cancer Screening Center

Our facility meets the criteria for a designated Lung Cancer Screening Center.

American College of Radiology: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

The MRI Accreditation Program evaluates staff qualifications, quality control, MR safety policies and image quality. Accreditation is required for providers that bill for MRI under part B of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

American College of Radiology: Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

The Breast MRI Accreditation Program provides facilities with peer review and constructive feedback on staff qualifications, equipment, quality control, quality assurance, MR safety policies and image quality.

American College of Radiology: Breast Imaging Center of Excellence

The Breast Imaging Center of Excellence (BICOE) designation is awarded to breast imaging centers that achieve excellence by seeking and earning accreditation in all of the ACR’s voluntary breast-imaging accreditation programs and modules, in addition to the mandatory Mammography Accreditation Program.

Joint Commission Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification

The Joint Commission’s Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. Achievement of certification signifies that the services they provide have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes. Penn State Health St. Joseph has received this certification since 2012.

American Heart Association 2023 Get with the Guidelines Stroke Silver Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

Get With The Guidelines® puts the unparalleled expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping hospital care teams ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. Developed to save lives and help patients recover more quickly, Get With The Guidelines programs have impacted more than 6 million patients since 2001.

Hospitals receiving Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus Achievement Award have reached an aggressive goal of treating (heart failure or stroke) patients with 85 percent or higher compliance to core standard levels of care outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for 24 consecutive months. In addition, those hospitals have demonstrated 75 percent compliance to (four out of nine heart failure quality measures or seven out of ten stroke quality measures) during the 12-month period.

In 2020, St. Joseph qualified for recognition on the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, making St. Joseph part of a group of hospitals recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for ensuring patients with type 2 diabetes receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized with stroke.