In a new alert, the Joint Commission adds its voice to calls to curb fatigue from extended work days and work hours. The alert highlights evidence linking fatigue to adverse events and outlines actions organizations can take to mitigate fatigue, especially among nurses and physicians. The commission says the alert…

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A special article on new Joint Commission expectations. By January 2012, the Joint Commission plans to raise the bar on hospital performance by using ORYX core measure data more directly in the survey process. In the 8 years since the Joint Commission launched ORYX, its performance measurement and improvement initiative,…

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Privileging (HR.02.01.03) was the toughest standard to meet for Joint Commission-accredited ambulatory care centers in the first half of 2009, with 45% of facilities surveyed out of compliance. Accreditation expert John Rosing, MHA, FACHE, comments on the elements of performance (EPs) that caused the most compliance difficulty. Rosing is with…

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The Joint Commission has modified the Universal Protocol for surgical site verification once again. Having tipped toward being more prescriptive in 2009, the protocol for 2010 is less prescriptive. The language is clearer and more direct. The revised protocol was issued in September 2009. Some revisions were effective immediately, with…

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A lot of effort has gone into preventing wrong surgery through the Joint Commission's Universal Protocol and other measures. Still, the data suggest the incidence hasn't changed very much. The Joint Commission estimates about 40 wrong surgery cases happen every week in this country. The numbers are projected from Minnesota…

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The Joint Commission released its revised Universal Protocol for surgical site verification September 9, 2009, along with changes to the National Patient Safety Goals. No new safety goals are being issued for 2010. Instead, the commission spent this year reviewing and revising the 2009 goals. Some changes are effective immediately;…

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The Joint Commission announced in June it will look beyond flash sterilization to take a broader view of sterilization. Surveyors will scrutinize the entire process rather than just focusing on which sterilization method is selected. "If a complete and effective process of sterilization is used, it will be considered an…

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Though the Joint Commission is in the midst of revising its National Patient Safety Goals, organizations are expected to continue plans to meet the goals by Jan 1, 2010. Proposed revisions were issued May 12 for a 6-week field review. Final goals are expected in October. The commission is conducting…

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What is needed to be ready for a Joint Commission survey with regard to sterilization practices, both now and in the future? Experiences with recent surveys were shared by 20 operating room managers with responsibility for the OR and sterile processing department (SPD) at an all-day session on sterilization at…

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On March 26, the Joint Commission issued a further revision of its 2009 standards. The revision, among other things, removes specific language about OR supervision and circulating duties that had appeared in a Jan 5 draft. The Joint Commission said the changes were a result of its negotiations with the…

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