Lawrence + Memorial Hospital achieves seventh certification for hip and knee replacement program

New London, CT (April 2, 2026) – For the seventh time, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital (L+M) has earned reaccreditation from The Joint Commission for its hip and total knee replacement programs, receiving the prestigious Gold Seal of Approval®. This distinction underscores the hospital’s Joint Replacement Center’s ongoing commitment to meeting rigorous national standards for health care quality and patient safety in disease-specific care. 

The certification, offered in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, focuses on the pre-surgical orthopedic consultation to the intraoperative, hospitalization or ambulatory surgical center admission, rehabilitation activities and follow-up visit with the orthopedic surgeon. The certification is for a two year period. 

L+M recently underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review by The Joint Commission. During the two-day inspection, the reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification standards including program management, supporting self-management and delivering and facilitating clinical care. The Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers,   
measurement experts and patients. The reviewer also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

"In achieving Joint Commission reaccreditation, L+M has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its total hip and knee replacement patients.” said Oliver Mayorga, MD, L+M’s chief  medical officer. “We deliver personalized care and continuous education to every patient throughout their surgical journey, empowering them to achieve their individual goals. This reaccreditation   
recognizes our commitment to research-based and data-driven care to better serve our community. Above all, our goal is to help patients safely return to their active lifestyles and the activities they love as quickly as possible.”  

“This reaccreditation reflects the extraordinary collaboration across our orthopedic surgeons, nurses, physical therapists and support teams,” said Christopher Hutchins, MD, medical director of the Joint Replacement Center at L+M. “From preoperative education through recovery and follow-up care, our program is designed around evidence-based practices that improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience. We are proud to consistently meet The Joint Commission’s high standards while helping patients regain mobility, independence and quality of life.”

“Hip and Knee Replacement Certification recognizes 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 officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for using The Joint Commission 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.”  

The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification Program, launched in 2002, is designed to evaluate clinical programs across the continuum of care. Certification requirements address three core areas: compliance with consensus-based national standards; effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.

The Joint Commission, a globally recognized leader in healthcare accreditation, sets rigorous standards to elevate patient care and safety worldwide. Its independent, not-for-profit evaluations ensure that hospitals meet the highest quality benchmarks.

For more information about joint replacement at L+M, visit   
https://www.lmhospital.org/services/orthopedics  

Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, a member of Yale New Haven Health, is a non-profit, 308-bed general and acute care hospital providing patient care to medical, surgical, pediatric, psychiatric and obstetrical patients in southeastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island since 1912. Lawrence + Memorial offers cardiac acute, step-down and rehabilitation programs and is the only eastern Connecticut hospital that performs emergency and elective angioplasty. www.lmhospital.org