Three Central Texas hospitals —Seton Medical Center Austin, Seton Medical Center Williamson and University Medical Center Brackenridge—received the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for disease-specific spinal surgery programs on April 24.

"The Gold Seal of Approval demonstrates our partnership with our physicians to provide the very best care to our spine care patients and their families," said Charlotte Thrasher, Seton Medical Center Austin vice president and chief operating officer. "Spine care, like other complex specialty care provided at Seton Medical Center Austin, takes a committed multidisciplinary team to achieve excellence."

The Joint Commission is a nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies more than 20,000 health care organizations a year.

The hospitals are the first in Central Texas to meet the commission's requirements for the certification.