Laboratory Awarded Accreditation from The Joint Commission

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® for Laboratory Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

PVHMC underwent a multi-day rigorous, unannounced onsite review in March 2025. During the visit, a Joint Commission surveyor evaluated compliance with laboratory standards spanning several areas, including pathology, the blood bank, emergency management, respiratory arterial blood gas labs, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, medication management, and rights and responsibilities of the individual. The surveyor also conducted onsite observations and interviews with staff and patients.

“Laboratory Services plays an essential role in helping our care providers make informed decisions about patient care at every step - from diagnosis to treatment and monitoring of patients,” said William Hall, Executive Director of Ancillary Services at PVHMC. “A testament to our team’s everyday efforts was shared during our closing review, when the surveyor said that not only were our laboratory processes full of best practices, but that he would trust us to care for his own children and family here at PVHMC.”

The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus, including the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) as well as regulations from the California Department of Public Health, to help healthcare organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

Committed to improving its processes, PVHMC recently upgraded its laboratory chemistry system utilizing the cobas 8100 automated workflow series, which delivers seamless automation, from sample reception to archiving. The system’s advanced robotics manage aliquoting, sorting, and transport, improving efficiency, prioritizing urgent samples, and significantly reducing manual handling and potential errors.

“As a healthcare accreditor, The Joint Commission works with healthcare organizations across care settings to inspire safer and higher quality of care that is more equitable and compassionate,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “Through collaborating on innovative solutions and evidence-based resources and tools, The Joint Commission helps drive improvement while maintaining accountability through our leading survey methods and standards. We commend Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for its commitment to advance safety, quality, equity and compassion for all patients.”