Hibbing (February 5, 2010) - By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission‘s national standards for health care quality and safety; Fairview Range, including: University Medical Center-Mesabi, Fairview Mesaba Clinics, and HealthLine Medical Supply has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™.

“We sought accreditation for our organization because we want to demonstrate our commitment to (patients’/residents’/clients’) safety and quality care,” says Jack Berland, COO. “We view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward achieving excellence.”

“Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization’s performance and the outcomes of care,” says Mark Pelletier, R.N., M.S, executive director, Hospital Programs, Accreditation and Certification Services, The Joint Commission. “The community should be proud that Fairview Range is focusing on the most challenging goal—to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels.”

The Joint Commission conducted an unannounced, on-site evaluation of Fairview University Medical Center-Mesabi, Mesaba Clinics and HealthLine Medical Supply on May 5 through May 7, 2009. The accreditation award recognizes Fairview Range’s dedication to complying with the Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800 other health care organizations that provide long term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. In addition, The Joint Commission provides certification of disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

Fairview Range is a family of medical providers based in Hibbing, and includes Fairview University Medical Center-Mesabi, Fairview Mesaba Clinics (with locations in Hibbing, Nashwauk and Mountain Iron), Mesaba Pharmacy, Fairview Plaza, Fairview HealthLine, a home care, hospice and medical supply provider. Fairview Range offers more than 60 medical services, including ENT, surgery, urology, occupational therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, radiation therapy, sleep lab, sports medicine and obstetrics/gynecology, and also owns Greenview Alzheimer’s Residence, located on the medical campus.

• Fairview University Medical Center - Mesabi, Mesaba Clinics and Healthline Medical Supply awarded accreditation from Joint Commission , 2/4/2010
• Public meeting on Bayfront District to be held January 27 , 1/25/2010
• KUMD 103.3 FM goes 24 hours , 1/11/2010
• UW-Eau Claire's College of Business leads in IS research , 1/11/2010
• Grants available for Northwest Wisconsin midsized manufacturers Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center, 12/31/2009