Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on September 15, announced that the deadline to participate in the Institute for Safe Medication Practices’ (ISMP) Medication Safety Self Assessment for Perioperative Settings has been extended to December 10. The self-assessment helps those in perioperative settings see how well their organizations’ systems and practices…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission on September 8 announced that it has returned to the original volume eligibility requirement for its advanced Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center (TSC) and Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) certification programs, effective September 1. Volume eligibility requirements were lowered in 2020 and into 2021 because of the COVID-19…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission on September 1 announced that it is seeking comments on new and revised emergency management (EM) requirements for its hospital and critical access hospital accreditation programs. The aim of the proposed standards is to help healthcare organizations develop and improve their actions and responses to…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on August 25 that data collection for four new performance measures in the Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery (ACSS) program and one new performance measure in the Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement (THKR-5) program began on July 1. Programs are…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission and National Quality Forum on August 11 announced that the application period for the 20th John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards is open now through September 30. The annual awards program recognizes major achievements to improve patient safety and healthcare quality in three…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on August 4 that revisions to three Health Care Staffing Services (HCCS) certification standards will go into effect January 1, 2022. The changes include: Human Resources Management (HSHR) Standard HSHR.3 will now clarify that this is the organization’s new employee orientation for clinical staff…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission on July 21 announced new revisions to its Sentinel Event definition and policy that will apply to all accreditation and certification programs, except for Health Care Staffing Services and Integrated Care certification programs, effective January 1, 2022. The revisions clarify expectations regarding an organization’s partnership…

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Increased tensions during the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to a spate of violent incidents, many of them directed at healthcare workers (HCWs). About 20% of respondents to a National Nurses United survey in late 2020 of more than 15,000 US registered nurses reported an increase in on-the-job violence caused by…

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The Joint Commission on June 18 issued prepublication standards for its New and Revised Workplace Violence Prevention Requirements, which will apply to all Joint Commission-accredited hospitals starting January 1, 2022. Revisions range from some wording changes in existing requirements to the addition of new Elements of Performance (EP) within certain…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on July 7 that second quarter Accelerate PI Dashboard Reports are available for accredited organizations. The reports reflect the most recent data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Compare website and electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) data reported under The Joint Commission's ORYX…

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