Buffalo, NY, March 11, 2002 - Kaleida Health, Western New York's largest health care system, has been granted a preliminary three-year accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

JCAHO is the nation's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body for health care. JCAHO accreditation is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects a health care system's commitment to meeting high performance standards.

JCAHO completed a five-day survey of Kaleida facilities and programs Friday, March 8 and announced the preliminary accreditation immediately afterwards. Final accreditation notification will be issued to Kaleida within 30 to 45 days.

This is Kaleida's second three-year accreditation since the system was formed in 1998 as the result of a full-asset merger between Buffalo General Hospital, The Children's Hospital of Buffalo, DeGraff Memorial Hospital and Millard Fillmore Gates Circle and Suburban hospitals.

A team of eight JCAHO surveyors spent five days touring Kaleida inpatient, alcoholism and behavioral health, long term care and ambulatory sites. In cases of a fully merged system such as Kaleida, JCAHO scores are integrated into one overall score by program, as opposed to site-by-site scoring. At its March 8 exit conference, JCAHO reported scores of 88 for Kaleida inpatient hospital, ambulatory and alcohol services, 96 for Kaleida long-term care and sub-acute services and 99 for Kaleida behavioral health services.

In granting accreditation to Kaleida, JCAHO surveyors noted that "The sign of a high quality organization is one in which I would feel comfortable being cared for or having my family members cared for, and yours is one of these."

"Kaleida Health is very proud of the care we provide and the people who provide it. JCAHO success illustrates the overriding commitment of this organization to quality and excellence as we care for Western New Yorkers of all ages," said Carrie Frank, Kaleida Health Executive Vice President.

As noted by JCAHO, "accreditation demonstrates a commitment to patient safety and quality care, offers a consultative and educational experience, and enhances an organization's safety and quality improvement efforts."