Paula Wilson Appointed President and CEO of JCR and JCI

OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL--(Marketwire - Aug 23, 2011) - The Joint Commission today announced the appointment of Paula Wilson as president and chief executive officer of Joint Commission Resources (JCR) and Joint Commission International (JCI). In this role Wilson will direct all operations of JCR and JCI.

JCR, a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission, is the official publisher and educator of The Joint Commission. Through international accreditation, consultation, publications and education programs, JCI extends The Joint Commission's mission worldwide by helping to improve the quality of patient care. JCI assists international health care organizations, public health agencies, health ministries and others in more than 60 countries.

Wilson was appointed temporary president and CEO of JCR and JCI in June 2010. Since then, a Search Committee conducted a thorough process to select a new president and CEO and determined that Wilson was the most qualified candidate for the position. Her appointment received a unanimous vote of approval from The Joint Commission Board of Commissioners and the strong support of the JCR Board.

"Over the past year, Paula's passion for this job and her commitment to the missions of JCR and JCI have been evident," says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., FACP, M.P.P., M.P.H. "Our staff and customers have greatly benefited from her exemplary leadership and guidance. I am delighted that she is now a permanent member of our enterprise leadership team."

Prior to joining JCR, Wilson ran her own consulting practice in New York City and also taught at New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Wilson was previously the vice president for policy at the United Hospital Fund and led efforts to shape public policy changes related to insurance coverage, health care financing and Medicaid. From 1998 to 2005, Wilson was an associate professor at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where she taught courses in financial management and public and nonprofit administration. Earlier in her career, she served in several senior positions in the administration of New York Governor Mario Cuomo, including executive deputy commissioner of the New York State Department of Health where she was responsible for all operational and management activities of a $1.2 billion organization with 7,000 employees.

Wilson received her master's degree in social work from the State University of New York at Albany.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,500 other health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 2,000 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. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

Joint Commission Resources (JCR), a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission, is the official publisher and educator of The Joint Commission. JCR is an expert resource for health care organizations, providing consulting services, educational services and publications to assist in improving quality and safety and to help in meeting the accreditation standards of The Joint Commission. JCR provides consulting services independently from The Joint Commission and in a fully confidential manner. Please visit our Web site at www.jcrinc.com.

Joint Commission International (JCI) was established in 1997 as a division of Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR), a wholly controlled, not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission. Through international accreditation, consultation, publications and education programs, JCI extends The Joint Commission's mission worldwide by helping to improve the quality of patient care. JCI assists international health care organizations, public health agencies, health ministries and others in more than 90 countries.

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