Charlotte, December 22, 2008 – By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety, Carolinas Specialty Hospital has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval™.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation's health care through voluntary accreditation.  The Joint Commission's on-site survey of Carolinas Specialty Hospital occurred in November 2008.

"Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization's performance and the outcomes of care," says Mark Pelletier, R.N., M.S., executive director, Hospital Programs, Accreditation and Certification Services, The Joint Commission. "The community should be proud that Carolinas Specialty Hospital is focusing on the most challenging goal -- to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels."

Susan Davis, CEO, spoke of her pride in a staff whose members ask what needs to be done to be accredited by The Joint Commission.  "In addition, they appreciate the educational aspect of the survey and the opportunity to interact with the team of surveyors."

She called the accreditation, "proof of an organization-wide commitment to provide quality care on an ongoing basis."