Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on January 25 that its affiliate Joint Commission International (JCI) has started a new telehealth certification program. To become certified, organizations must demonstrate a culture of continuous improvement through standardized practices and processes while ensuring coordination, communication, and alignment when providing patient care via…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission and National Quality Forum (NQF) on January 23 announced the recipients of the 2022 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards. The Awards recognize major achievements by individuals and organizations to improve patient safety and healthcare quality. This year’s recipients; Made advancements related to…

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) develops conditions of participation (CoPs) and Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) that healthcare organizations must meet in order to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs. Payers, including government payers, require facility certification or accreditation for reimbursement. “Reimbursement is the critical piece,” says Becky…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on January 17, announced the publication of two new resources to help reduce mortality and morbidity in pregnant and postpartum patients. Sentinel Event Alert, Issue 66: Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities causing mortality and morbidity in pregnant and postpartum patients—emphasizes the effects of social determinants…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission on January 10 announced that it had elevated the Leadership (LD) Standard LD.04.03.08, which addresses healthcare disparities as a quality and safety priority, to a National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG), effective July 1, 2023. Current requirements for accreditation will not change, and the intent behind…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced January 4 that Northside Hospital, Atlanta, is the first in the country to receive Maternal Levels of Care Verification and the first in the state to receive a Level IV Maternal Center Designation from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Georgia is one of…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on December 21 that they are eliminating 168 standards (14%) and revising 14 other standards across its accreditation programs in the new year. The Joint Commission additionally announced that it will not raise accreditation fees for domestic hospitals in the coming year due the…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on December 14 that it will be eliminating the term “licensed independent practitioner” from its critical access hospital and hospital programs, effective February 19, 2023. The updated terminology is consistent with that used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Conditions of Participation…

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Takeaways Many OR managers said they were overdue for a survey by The Joint Commission because of the pandemic. The Joint Commission is said to be 3,000 surveys behind. More checklists are being used by surveyors, which are available in The Joint Commission’s Perspectives and EC News newsletters. New in…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on December 7 that it was recognized by the Department of Health and Human Services at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference for its actions to decarbonize the healthcare sector and make healthcare facilities more resilient to climate change. The Joint Commission formally…

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