MEDIA CONTACT
Erin Maier, (531) 893-1359,
erin.maier@nebraska.gov
Lincoln, NE – In January 2026, the Lincoln Regional Center (LRC) and Whitehall earned Accreditation from The Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the next three years after an extensive review for compliance with national standards of healthcare quality and patient safety.
In August 2025, The Joint Commission conducted a review of organizational systems and structures at both LRC and Whitehall, using surveys to assess compliance with The Joint Commission Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals and the Medicare conditions for hospitals and special conditions for psychiatric hospitals. Surveyors conducted on-site observations and interviews to identify performance strengths and opportunities for continued improvement after reviewing patient records, observing care, and interviewing staff and patients.
The accreditation confirms surveyors found LRC and Whitehall to be healthcare facilities that adhere to leading quality and safety practices, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and are committed to improving patient care.
The accreditation process also involved The Joint Commission conducting surveys of both LRC and Whitehall to ensure compliance with the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Behavioral Health Care and Human Services, a national standard for behavioral health organizations providing case management services, peer-based recovery services, prevention and wellness promotion, corrections-based services, and opioid treatment programs. The Joint Commission is an independent, evidence-based organization setting standards for safe, high-quality patient care through healthcare accreditation.
“The certification affirms that LRC and Whitehall offer high-quality care and safety standards for the workforce, community, and patients across all service settings. We collaborated closely with leaders at The Joint Commission throughout this process and are proud to have received one of the highest standards of certification and recognition for the patient-centered care we provide to Nebraskans," said Mark LaBouchardiere, DHHS Director of Facilities. “Staff at both facilities have been deeply invested in meeting and maintaining a high standard of care as they interact with patients and set treatment plans aimed at healing."
As part of the compliance review, LRC and Whitehall demonstrated evidence to The Joint Commission and were recognized in several areas for excellence, including:
- Quality Patient Care
- Staffing Plan, Training, and Personnel Files
- Grievances and Complaints
- Healthcare Disparities
- Life Safety and Emergency Management
- Quality Assurance and Performance Management
- Workplace Violence Prevention Program
- Dental Clinic
- Leadership
The LRC is a 250-bed, Joint Commission-accredited state psychiatric hospital in Lincoln for adult patients, operated by DHHS. It serves people who need very specialized psychiatric services and provides services to people who, because of mental illness, require a highly structured treatment setting. Whitehall offers treatment to adolescent males who have engaged in harmful behaviors and are determined eligible for state services at this facility.
