St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, New York, has received reaccreditation from The Joint Commission, earning the Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation. This recognition follows an unannounced on-site review conducted in May 2025, during which a team of reviewers evaluated the hospital’s adherence to standards in areas such as emergency management, infection prevention and control, environment of care, leadership, and medication management.
“This accreditation is more than a seal of approval – it is a validation of the exceptional, patient-centered care that defines our health system,” said Donald T. Morrish, MD, MMM, Chief Executive Officer of EHS. “Earning this recognition means that we have met – and exceeded – rigorous nationally recognized standards for quality and safety in every area of our patient care, from clinical excellence to operational precision.”
Karen Paige, MBA, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, CPXP, OCN, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of EHS added: “This achievement reflects the unwavering dedication, expertise, and collaboration of our entire team. Reaccreditation from The Joint Commission reinforces the fact that we are not only meeting but exceeding national standards in patient safety, clinical excellence, and operational performance. Our deep-rooted commitment to continuous improvement drives everything we do to deliver exceptional care.”
Robert Bloise Jr., DMSc, MS, PA-C., Chief Quality Officer of EHS stated: “Quality and safety are key hallmarks at EHS. This reaccreditation confirms that our systems not only meet the highest national benchmarks but also continue to support ongoing improvements in patient care.”
The Joint Commission develops its standards with input from healthcare professionals and patients as well as measurement experts. These standards are based on scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations assess and improve their performance through onsite observations and interviews.
Episcopal Health Services Inc., which operates St. John’s Episcopal Hospital on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens (https://ehs.org/), provides emergency and ambulatory services to diverse communities including the Rockaways and Five Towns populations. The health system offers comprehensive preventive care as well as diagnostic treatment and rehabilitation services regardless of patients’ ability to pay.
