Rainy Lake Medical Center Awarded Accreditation from Joint Commission International Falls, MN. (January 11, 2010) — Rainy Lake Medical Center has maintained its accreditation through the Joint Commission, which means the healthcare organization complies with the highest national standards for safety and quality of care. "We continue to seek accreditation for our organization because we want to demonstrate our commitment to patient safety and quality care," says Brian Long, Rainy Lake Medical Center Chief Executive Officer. "We view maintaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward our mission of providing healthcare services in our region." The Joint Commission’s prime directive is to ensure the care provided in an accredited organization meets national standards for safety and quality. “Rainy Lake Medical Center performed very well during the two day survey of both the clinic and hospital campuses,” says Laurie Whitfield Trautlein, RLMC VP of Ancillary Services, “reaffirming that we provide care achieving the same standards of quality and safety as those of other accredited healthcare organizations across the nation. I am very proud of our staff. Joint Commission accreditation proves their commitment to providing the highest quality of care in our community.” Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 17,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. To earn and maintain The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™, an organization must undergo an on-site survey by a Joint Commission survey team at least every three years. (Laboratories must be surveyed every two years.)