Editor's Note The Joint Commission on November 7 announced a new requirement of participation in a national joint replacement registry for its advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement (THKR) certification, effective July 1, 2019. The Disease Specific Care Performance Measurement (DSPM) standard DSPM.4, element of performance (EP) 2 will…

Read More

Editor's Note Healthcare accreditation organization DNV GL Healthcare on November 7 launched the first sterile processing program certification in the US. The program recognizes excellence in an organization’s sterile processing department within the scope of infection prevention and control, surgical services, endoscopic services, and related departments. An important part of…

Read More

Editor's Note The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) announced on October 25 that it has launched an Advanced Orthopaedic Certification program for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) performing total joints and spine procedures. The 3-year certification program was designed by an expert panel of practicing orthopaedic and spine professionals…

Read More

Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on October 24 that the 2019 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) are now available on its website. Included is a new element of performance (EP) for NPSG.01.01.01, EP3, which is designed to improve the naming convention of newborns after delivery to prevent medical errors…

Read More

Editor's Note  Joint Commission Resources on October 24 announced the availability of a new accreditation prep guide specific for surgical settings. “Survey Readiness Guide for Surgical Settings: Standards, Tracers, and Tools” is a self-assessment tool that includes all relevant Joint Commission accreditation standards and provides an overview of the survey…

Read More

Editor's Note The Joint Commission on October 17 announced that it is seeking public comment on three draft electronic Patient Blood Management (ePBM) performance measures: PBM-01 Preoperative Anemia Screening  PBM-03 Preoperative Blood Type Testing and Antibody Screening  PBM-04 Initial Transfusion Threshold. The Joint Commission is looking at options for using…

Read More

Editor's Note The Joint Commission on October 3 announced that key updates are now available for its 2019 ORYX performance measurement program reporting requirements. The Joint Commission continues to align its performance measure reporting requirements with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which published its 2019 Inpatient Prospective Payment…

Read More

Editor's Note The Joint Commission on September 19 released the “Top 5” requirements identified most frequently as “not compliant” during accreditation surveys and reviews in the first half of 2018. The Top 5 most challenging for Hospital Accreditation are: LS.02.01.35 The hospital provides and maintains systems for extinguishing fires (88%).…

Read More

Editor's Note The Joint Commission on August 29 announced that it has concluded its efforts to streamline and consolidate its elements of performance (EPs) for its accreditation programs as part of its EP Review Project. The Equipment Management chapter of the Home Care Accreditation program and the Leadership chapter for…

Read More

Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on August 15 that additional changes will be made to elements of performance (EPs) in the Nursing and Provision of Care, Treatment, and Services chapters of the accreditation manuals for critical access hospitals and deemed-status hospital programs, effective January 1, 2019. The Centers for…

Read More