Pictured left to right are Calvin Melendez ST; David Angelitis, PA-C; Heather Nolan, BSN RN Director Peri anesthesia Services; Ryan Urban, PA-C; Jose A. Canseco, MD, PhD, orthopedic surgeon and Director, Spine Program, Orthopedic Center of Excellence, member of medical staff leadership at RWJUH Hamilton; Lauren Hickman RN PAT; Jillian VanPelt, BSN RN CNOR; Michele Hunt, RN CNOR, Assistant Director Patient Care – Operating Room; Denise Berdecia, MSN RN Director Disease Management/Orthopedic Coordinator; Janice Klingele RN; Susan Markulec RN PAT; Courtney Fluehr, PT DPT Inpatient Clinical Supervisor.
Hamilton Township, NJ, August 3, 2026 – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, and its Orthopedic Center of Excellence has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification and for Certification in Spine Surgery by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
The certifications, offered in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, focus on pre-surgical consultation to the intraoperative, hospitalization or ambulatory surgical center admission, rehabilitation activities and follow-up visit with the surgeon. To be eligible, organizations must implement evidence-based care and clinical practice guidelines. Additionally, organizations need to collect performance measurement data on surgical site infection rates, new neurological deficits, unplanned return visits to the operating room, and pre-operative and post-operative patient reported outcomes.
“The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval says it all – our community can be assured they are receiving orthopedic care at its best, along with the highest standards of quality and safety,” said Lisa Breza, Chief Administrative Officer, RWJUH Hamilton. “This achievement reflects our entire team’s dedication to providing the highest standards of safety and clinical excellence for our patients, from pre-operative education through discharge and recovery.”
Included in this group photo are John R. Schnell, MD, orthopedic surgeon, Department of Surgery, Orthopedic Section Chief, member of medical staff leadership at RWJUH Hamilton; Denise Berdecia, MSN RN Director Disease Management/Orthopedic Coordinator; and clinical members of the multidisciplinary Total Joint, Orthopedic Center of Excellence team at RWJUH Hamilton (Casey Schade, RN; Christina Carabelli, RN; Jeffrey Voorhees, RN; Ewa Santiago, BSN RN; Marsh Boursiquot, CCT; Susan Brown, LPN; Michele Hunt, RN CNOR, Assistant Director Patient Care – OR; Samuel Velez, RN; Jennifer Perry, BSN RN CNOR).
RWJUH Hamilton underwent a rigorous, onsite review in July. During the visit, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including a thorough review of patient charts to ensure compliance with operating room procedure and policies, pain medication administration protocols, patient ambulation, patient assessment, education, and preparation of the patient and support person for a safe discharge home, as well as performance improvement initiatives, medical staff and hospital leadership’s involvement and clinical outcomes. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewer also conducted interviews and reviewed in-house cases.
“Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification and Spine Surgery Certification recognize healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing executive, Joint Commission. “We commend RWJUH Hamilton for using Joint Commission’s certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”
RWJUH Hamilton’s comprehensive orthopedic care includes an experienced team of orthopedic surgeons, a Certified Coordinator in Orthopedics, who is an RN (Registered Nurse) and ONC (Certified Orthopedic Nurse), pre-surgical patient education, a specialized perioperative and inpatient nursing team, and physical and occupational therapy that begins the day of surgery.
The hospital’s robotic-assisted surgery program also provides patients with advanced treatments for total hip and knee replacement, as well as a renowned spine surgery program with cutting-edge technology. These minimally invasive approaches help promote faster recovery times and reduce pain for patients.
After surgery, patients are cared for in the hospital’s Center for Orthopedic and Spine health, a designated unit for orthopedic patients, which features all-private patient rooms and a rehabilitation gym. RWJUH Hamilton’s Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy team treats post-surgical patients at five locations throughout Mercer County.
The Joint Commission recertifies disease-specific programs every two years through a comprehensive evaluation of clinical quality, patient care and organizational performance. The review examines an organization's leadership, the expertise of its physicians and clinical teams, use of evidence-based practices, individualized patient care planning, patient and family education, care coordination and discharge planning, and ongoing performance improvement initiatives.
At RWJUH Hamilton, maintaining this certification reflects a continued commitment to excellence in orthopedic care. Nurses and other members of the orthopedic care team receive specialized education to ensure they remain current on evidence-based practices. The hospital also supports ongoing professional development by sending nurses annually to the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) Congress, where they learn the latest advancements in orthopedic care and bring best practices back to the hospital. In addition, a multidisciplinary steering committee meets bimonthly to review outcomes, evaluate quality measures and identify opportunities to further enhance patient care.
Learn more at rwjbh.org/ortho
About RWJUH Hamilton
Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, serves Mercer County as well as a larger five-county region of New Jersey. RWJBarnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s Cancer Center, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute – the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, brings a world-class team of researchers and specialists to its cancer center, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. RWJUH Hamilton is Joint Commission Certified, Primary Stroke Center Certified from The Joint Commission, and a Center for Excellence from The Joint Commission for stroke, spine surgery and hip and knee replacement. The hospital is MAGNET® Recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
RWJUH Hamilton’s other specialties include heart and vascular care, including emergency and elective angioplasty, heart failure intervention program, coupled with a specialty-trained support staff, treatment and care for minor injuries and life-threatening illnesses, outpatient diagnostic and treatment services and medical/surgical services, bariatric surgery, wound care, women’s health, geriatrics/ senior health and wellness care, infusion services, outpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy centers, including cardiac rehab, orthopedic rehab, speech therapy, aquatic therapy, a balance and hearing center and sleep center.
Visit rwjbh.org/Hamilton