Joseph P. Verga, MS, FACHE
Consultant, Joint Commission Resources, Inc.
Joseph Verga brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role as an expert consultant for Joint Commission Resources. Throughout his distinguished health care career he has helped organizations and conducted educational seminars throughout the country and the world, with a proven track record of success.
Mr. Verga served as Chief Executive Officer of an acute care and psychiatric hospital system for more than 15 years where he was responsible for the completion of many major capital projects, such as the construction of new state-of-the-art hospitals; development and implementation of a unique psychosocial rehabilitation model; significant revenue enhancements; initial hospital certification and accreditation; establishment of OPD and PC services; development and implementation of a unique, innovative systems agreement between the mental health and criminal justice systems; computerization of management of information systems; effective systems and programmatic organizational development, re-engineering and redesign for safety and cost efficiency; and regulatory compliance. Also, as the CEO, Mr. Verga chaired the hospital system’s Performance Improvement Committee and was a voting member of the medical staff during his tenure.
Mr. Verga has received numerous national and state commendations and recognitions. He served on various pilot projects for the state department of human services, such as a peer review member of state licensure inspection teams at other hospitals and the development of a request for proposal concept paper on the Medicaid Financed Mental Health and Substance Abuse Managed Care Initiatives, and a joint initiative with the criminal justice systems cited as a model in the State of New Jersey and throughout the country. He also served on a committee that developed alternative treatment options, such as integrated case management and community-based crisis intervention teams. He has conducted numerous consultative surveys with outstanding results at acute care and specialty hospitals throughout the United States and internationally, including for the Veterans Health Administration and the military. Mr. Verga also conducts educational programs for JCR’s Department of Publications and Education Resources and Continuous Service Readiness® program.
Mr. Verga’s consulting expertise includes the governance, leadership, environment of care, life safety, emergency management, performance and systems improvement; acute care, ambulatory, long term care, emergency, and behavioral health services; and organizational patient safety. He is a certified healthcare executive (CHE) in both the USA and Canada and a Fellow of the ACHE. He is also a certified Environment of Care Specialist.
Mr. Verga received his bachelor of arts degree from Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey; and his master’s of science from Scientific Lyceum Cavour, in Florence, Italy. He also attended the University of Padua Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in Italy for six years. He is very active in his professional affiliations and associations, which include American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL), American Society of Healthcare Engineers (ASHE), New Jersey Association of Healthcare Executives, New Jersey Mental Health Association, and World Health Organization. He is also a Joint Commission-certified Yellow Belt.