(Fulton, KY) – Parkway Regional Hospital today was named one of the nation's top performers on key quality measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America. The hospital was recognized by The Joint Commission based on data reported about evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care and children's asthma.

Parkway Regional Hospital is one of only 405 U.S. hospitals and critical access hospitals earning the distinction of top performer on key quality measures for attaining and sustaining excellence. Inclusion on the list is based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the previous calendar year. For example, this first recognition program is based on data reported for 2010.

To earn this distinction, an organization must meet two 95 percent performance thresholds. First, achieve a composite performance of 95 percent or above when the results of all the accountability measures for which they report data to The Joint Commission are factored into a single score, including measures that had less than 30 eligible cases or patients. Second, meet or exceed a 95 percent performance target for every accountability measure for which they report data, excluding any measures with less than 30 eligible cases or patients.

Parkway Regional Hospital was recognized for achieving these thresholds for pneumonia and surgical core measures.

"Today, the public expects transparency in the reporting of performance at the hospitals where they receive care, and The Joint Commission is shining a light on the top performing hospitals such as Parkway Regional Hospital that have achieved excellence on a number of vital measures of quality of care," says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., FACP, M.P.P., M.P.H., President, The Joint Commission.

"We understand that what matters most to our patients is safe, effective care. That's why Parkway Regional Hospital has made a commitment to accreditation and to evidence-based care processes. We have earned this recognition through the dedication and skill of our medical staff, nurses and other clinicians who care for our patients each day," said Dana Lawrence, chief financial officer of Parkway Regional Hospital.

In addition to being included in today's release of The Joint Commission's "Improving America's Hospitals" annual report, Parkway Regional Hospital will be recognized on The Joint Commission's Quality Check website.