Agape Joint Commission - Re-accreditation 

JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Duval County (DOH-Duval) announced today that the Agape Community Health Network (Agape Network) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for re-accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in ambulatory care organizations. The Agape Network is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) network in partnership with DOH-Duval. The re-accreditation award recognizes the network’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards. Under the Public Health Service Act, FQHCs such as The Agape Network provide core primary care services to underserved populations.

The Agape Network underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey this November. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated the network for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including national patient safety goals, infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

Since 1975, The Joint Commission has developed state-of-the-art standards for outpatient ambulatory care organizations. Nearly 1,900 freestanding ambulatory care organizations maintain Joint Commission accreditation.

"We recognize Joint Commission accreditation as the Gold Seal for providing safe, high quality patient care. Achieving re-accreditation from The Joint Commission is a team effort that will bring confidence to our patients and give us a framework to provide the best care possible,” says Renee Pollard, Executive Director/CEO of the Agape Community Health Network.

FQHCs provide primary and preventive care services to underserved populations based on their ability to pay, including individuals who have language and cultural sensitivities. In Florida, most FQHCs are managed by private organizations.

The Joint Commission’s ambulatory care standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and the management of an ambulatory care organization. The standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts and patients. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.
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