The Joint Commission names George Mills Director of Department of Engineering

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — The Joint Commission appointed George Mills as director of the newly formed Department of Engineering. The department will bring together the organization’s experts in engineering and related disciplines. A nationally recognized expert, Mills will develop a department that focuses on issues related to engineering, environment of care matters, Life Safety Code® regulations, and emergency preparedness and response.

Mills will work closely with the directors of the Department of Standards and Survey Methods and the Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations. He previously served as the senior engineer for the Standards Interpretation Group at The Joint Commission.

Mills has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare and previous experience in construction and structural steel fabrication. Prior to joining The Joint Commission, he served as a director of facilities, consulted and held national positions related to codes and standards, including serving as director of codes and compliance for the American Society for Healthcare Engineering.

“George’s expertise in how the physical environment impacts healthcare quality and safety will be important in The Joint Commission’s efforts to introduce new knowledge that benefits accredited organizations and the patients they serve. I am pleased to know that his strong vision will help us realize our goals,” says Ana Pujols McKee, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer, The Joint Commission.

Mills is a fellow of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering, a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager, a Certified Energy Manager and a Certified Healthcare Safety Professional. He is past president of the Healthcare Engineers Society of Northern Illinois, an ASHE local state chapter. Mills earned an M.B.A. from California Coast University in Santa Ana, Calif.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve healthcare for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating healthcare 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 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and homecare organizations, and more than 6,500 other healthcare organizations that provide long-term care, behavioral healthcare, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 2,000 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers and healthcare staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. Learn more at www.jointcommission.org.