Bluffton, S.C., APRIL 4, 2023– Tidewatch Emergency Department recently earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Acute Stroke Ready 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.

Tidewatch Emergency Department underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on January 25, 2023. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with Acute Stroke Ready standards spanning several areas including program management; delivering, facilitating and improving high quality clinical care; and involving patients in their plan of care and disease management.

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 to help health care organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“As a heath care accreditor, The Joint Commission works with health care organizations across settings to help improve patient safety and quality of care through our expert resources and tools, innovative solutions and rigorous standards,” says Deborah Ryan, MS, RN, interim executive vice president, Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission. “We commend Tidewatch Emergency Department for its commitment to advance safety and quality for all patients.”

Joel C. Taylor, Hilton Head Regional Healthcare Market Chief Executive Officer, said “We are incredibly proud of our team at Tidewatch Emergency Department for achieving this accreditation. In addition to this recent recognition, Hilton Head Hospital and Coastal Carolina Hospital are both Advanced Primary Stroke certified by The Joint Commission, further solidifying our commitment to serve the community with the highest level of care.”

For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.

About Coastal Carolina Hospital

Coastal Carolina Hospital (CCH), a part of Hilton Head Regional Healthcare, is a 41-bed acute care hospital located at 1000 Medical Center in Hardeeville, SC. Opened in 2004, CCH joined the healthcare system in 2007 and serves patients in Bluffton, Okatie, Hardeeville and surrounding counties through its care team of over 400 colleagues and over 70 physicians. The hospital provides many services to the community including a 24-hour emergency department, a dedicated Women’s Pavilion, and robotic-assisted minimally-invasive surgery. Coastal Carolina has oversight of Tidewatch Emergency Department located in Okatie, SC which is the area’s first stand-alone emergency facility providing convenient care staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians, experienced nurses and support staff 24/7/365. Coastal Carolina Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission and honored with Leapfrog’s “A” Hospital Safety Score. To learn more about Coastal Carolina and Tidewatch Emergency Department, please visit www.hiltonheadregional.com.