Joint Commission research studies published in peer-reviewed publications

2009: | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr |  May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep|

2008: | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |

September 2009

• Omaha World Herald
  9/21/2009
  "Don't wash your hands of this civic duty" by Rick Ruggles 
  You can lead a man to hot water, but you can't make him wash his hands. That's the reality health experts face as they strive to convince the nation of the importance of regular, thorough hand washing to preventing the spread of H1N1 flu and other illnesses. The latest evidence of that challenge came earlier this month when the Joint Commission, which evaluates and accredits health care organizations in the United States, released a report showing that employees last spring at eight hospitals around the country did a mediocre job of cleaning their hands.
  
• Modern Healthcare
  9/21/2009 
  "Overlooked ingredient" by William Hunt "Amid the national healthcare reform debate, it's also important to
  keep the need to improve the quality of care and patient safety at healthcare organizations in the forefront.
  
• Florence dot com (patient safety blog) 
  9/18/2009
  "Safety Nurse's Top 25 Tweeps for Patient Safety" by Barbara Olson 
  My Twitter network is comprised of consumers, patients and professionals, all of whom value patients and their safety. The healthcare dialogue on Twitter is rich, and the perspectives and causes diverse. Today's list allows me to share 25 tweeps I've identified as valuable patient safety resources, visionaries, or exemplars; their approach is consistent with the science of patient safety and they're currently active in the Twitterverse. Joint Commission's Twitter efforts and content are recognized on this list.
  
• The New York Times 
  9/17/2009
  "Why Don't Doctors Wash Their Hands More?" by Pauline Chen 
  Last week the Joint Commission, the most important hospital accrediting agency in the United States, established a new center that would, in its firstnational project, attempt to change the way health care organizations approach hand hygiene.
  
• Modern Healthcare 
  9/14/2009
  "Safety first" by Jean Dergurahian 
  A new center established by the Joint Commission could lead to bigger changes for the accreditation organization and standards requirements for hospitals down the road. The commission launched its new Center for Transforming Healthcare last week in Washington, joined by eight hospitals that have been participating in the center’s first project on hand hygiene.
  
• Join Together 
  9/11/2009
  "Proposed Accreditation Standards Could Compel U.S. Hospitals to Screen Patients for Addictions" by Bob Curley 
  A proposal to include screening and brief intervention for addictions in national quality and accreditation standards for hospitals could be one of the most important developments ever for addiction treatment -- or wind up being something far less significant, depending upon the outcome of ongoing discussions and feedback from the medical community.
  
• HealthLeaders 
  9/11/2009
  "Eight Years After 9/11, Disaster Response Lessons Still Hold True" by Scott Wallask For CEOs, emergency management lessons learned from the September 11 terrorist attacks remain relevant. In the eight years since that infamous day, the United States has seen other disasters, and the same lessons seem to come up over and over again—which makes the September 11 anniversary a good opportunity to review the following emergency planning concerns.
  
• San Francisco Chronicle 
  9/11/2009
  "Hospitals urged to strictly enforce hand-washing" by Carolyn Lochhead 
  The president of a leading medical standards organization announced a new program Thursday that is designed to improve health care safety practices, starting with a rigorous approach toward handwashing by hospital staffers.  
  
• The Wall Street Journal 
  9/10/2009
  "Joint Commission to Help Hospitals Fix, Not Just Identify, Problems" by Laura Landro 
  To win accreditation from the Joint Commission, hospitals pay a fee to be evaluated on how well they meet patient safety standards. Now, the commission is offering to help them do a better job. The Joint Commission announced today that its newly-formed Center for Transforming Healthcare will work on new collaborative programs with leading hospitals and health care systems to find a cause of the most deadly breakdowns in patient care, and put a stop to them. Article discusses the Center's work and positions it as a way to help organizations improve safety.
  
• The New York Times
  9/10/2009
  "A Hospital Hand-Washing Project to Save Lives and Money" by Kevin Sack 
  While President Obama deals with the big picture, the chief hospital
  accrediting agency is turning its attention to what should be the most
  mundane of details: persuading health care workers to wash their hands.
  
• Modern Healthcare
  9/7/2009
  "From tragedy to advocacy" by Jean Dergurahian
  "A determined breed of patient-safety advocates have forged their personal pain into a dedication to improving medical safety. Medical errors and patient harm have led to providers and families taking “sides”in battles, when advocates say what the process needs is an injection of compassion and communication.
  
• Becker's ASC Review 
  9/4/2009
  "10 Critical ASC Accreditation and Patient Safety Challenges and Best Practices to Overcome Them" by Lindsey Dunn
  The accreditation process can be challenging for ASCs, but it remains one of the best ways for facilities to demonstrate their commitment to patient safety. Here, leaders from three leading ASC-accrediting organizations discuss the 10 of the biggest challenges in patient safety and accreditation and provide best practices for overcoming them.

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August 2009

• Becker's ASC Review 
  9/4/2009
  "10 Critical ASC Accreditation and Patient Safety Challenges and Best Practices to Overcome Them" by Lindsey Dunn
  The accreditation process can be challenging for ASCs, but it remains one of the best ways for facilities to demonstrate their commitment to patient safety. Here, leaders from three leading ASC-accrediting organizations discuss the 10 of the biggest challenges in patient safety and accreditation and provide best practices for overcoming them.
  
• Jacksonville Business Journal 
  8/27/2009
  "More Hospitals Going Smoke-Free" by Kimberly Morrison
  "Nearly half of the nation's hospitals have adopted smoke-free campus policies, according to a new study by the Substance Abuse Policy
  Research Program. ""It is safe to assume that on the basis of these results, that the majority of U.S. hospitals will have smoke-free campuses by the end of 2009,"" said Scott Williams of The Joint Commission.
  
• Modern Healthcare 
  8/27/2009
  "Joint Commission urges zero-defect approach" by Jean Dergurahian 
  Healthcare leaders are responsible for patient safety at their facilities and should implement steps to prevent errors taken by other industries, according to the Joint Commission's latest sentinel-event alert.
  
• The New York Times 
  8/25/2009
  "Prevention: Hospitals Expand Their No-Smoking Zones" by Roni Caryn Rabin 
  "Most American hospitals banned smoking almost two decades ago,
  but now many are extending the ban, prohibiting smoking on all
  hospital property and making their entire campuses smoke-free, a
  new survey reports. The survey was conducted by the Joint Commission, which accredits 80 percent of American hospitals. 
  
• DOTmed News 
  8/24/2009
  "Trend Toward Smoke-Free Hospitals Has Soared, Study Finds" by Lynn Shapiro 
  While a study completed in November 2008 found that 45 percent of U.S. hospitals had adopted "smoke-free campus" policies, these numbers are continuing to climb, Scott Williams, associate director, Department of Health Services Research for the Joint Commission, tells DOTmed News.
  
• McKnight's  
  8/18/2009
  "Move to improve residents' quality of life
  a welcome development" by Nancy Gorman 
  As growing numbers of Americans age and need extended care, long-term care organizations have sought to better meet both the healthcare and social needs of their residents. Those who reach the point in life where nursing home care is necessary do not want to live in an environment that feels like a hospital instead of a home.
  
  
• U.S. News & World Report
  8/10/2009
  "On Parenting" by Nancy Shute 
  When I saw the press release about a new program on hospital safety for children, I sat up and paid attention. It's a child-centered version of the "Speak Up" program from the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation. The message: Parents need to closely monitor a child's medical care and speak up whenever anything seems amiss. Blog post profiles the key safety tips from Speak Up and positions the pediatric safety campaign as an attention-grabber and relevant to families.
  
• CNN.com 
  8/6/2009
  "Nurses offer tips for surviving a hospital stay" by Elizabeth Cohen 
  The consequences of medical errors are especially devastating for children, according to the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals nationwide. This week the commission released tips for keeping your child safe in the hospital.
  
• The Wall Street Journal 
  8/6/2009
  "Note to Parents of Hospitalized Kids: Be Vigilant" 
  "The group that accredits the nation’s hospitals wants parents to help protect their children from medical errors. In a bid to get parents to take a more active role in keeping their hosptialized kids safe, the Joint Commission is launching a new pediatric effort as part of its long-running “Speak Up” campaign.
  
• Immediate Care Business 
  8/5/2009
  "Joint Commission Accreditation" by Michael Kulczycki 
  Let me count the ways in which accreditation has now moved to the forefront of thinking, by owners and operators of urgent care centers, by payers, and by other stakeholders in this time of emerging health care reform.
  
• Associated Press
  8/5/2009
  "Hospital group gives parents tools to speak up"
  A hospital regulatory group is enlisting parents in a national campaign to prevent medical errors in children. Joint Commission President Dr. Mark Chassin says parents should be active members of the health care team.
  
• The New York Times 
  8/3/2009
  "To the Editor" by Mark Chassin 
  It is not sufficient to investigate health care “crashes” one at a time and hope to transform the health care system into one that performs more reliably. Too often, the lessons learned are not easily transferable to other hospitals or even to other problems within the same organization.
  
• Outpatient Surgery Magazine 
  8/1/2009
  "Joint Commission: Leaders Must Create "Culture of Safety"" by Kent Steinriede
  While the Obama administration is not pushing for required reporting of medical errors in this year’s healthcare legislation, the Joint Commission has spelled out 14 steps that leaders of healthcare institutions should take to prevent errors and improve patient safety.
  
• Medical Ethics Advisor 
  8/1/2009
  "TJC proposing new cultural sensitivity standards"
  In light of the ever-increasing diversity of patient populations, The Joint Commission is proposing revised and additional standards to address communication, cultural competence, and patient-centered care in hospital settings.

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July 2009

• Modern Healthcare 
  7/22/2009
  "Guest commentary: Reform must include investment in quality" by Mark Chassin 
  All we need to do to find sufficient funds to extend health insurance to all Americans is to make healthcare as safe as commercial air travel. Eliminating the preventable complications that today harm millions of patients would easily save the many billions of dollars lawmakers are struggling so hard to locate. And, as a bonus, the health of patients who do not suffer those complications will increase, too. Simple, right? Yes. And, no.
  
• Hospitals & Health Networks 
  7/22/2009
  "Word for Word, Culture to Culture" by Laurie Larson 
  Roughly 23 million people now living in the United States have LEP—limited English proficiency. Hospital leaders are stepping up to meet that challenge as populations diversify in big cities and rural areas alike. The Joint Commission has grown increasingly concerned with language and cultural competence.
  
• WNYC 
  7/17/2009
  "State Keeping Closer Tabs On Private Office Surgery" by Fred Mogul 
  Doctors are performing an increasingly broad array of surgical procedures in offices, rather than hospitals. They’re not doing open-heart surgery, but they are doing a lot more than removing moles.
  
• ADVANCE for Nurses 
  7/16/2009
  "A Journey to Stroke Certification" by Theresa Kwah, Donald D. Kautz 
  The Joint Commission encourages medical centers treating patients experiencing an acute stroke to become recognized as Primary Stroke Centers to improve outcomes for these patients. The Joint Commission has established performance requirements that facilities must meet.
  
• The Jamestown Press 
  7/10/2009 
  "Rhode Island hospitals and surgical centers adopt uniform safety protocol" by Eileen M. Daly 
  Rhode Island area hospitals and outpatient surgical centers have agreed to adopt a uniform surgical protocol. the Rhode Island uniform surgical protocol follows standards developed by the World Health Organization and Joint Commission. Article mentions aspects of Universal Protocol that have been incorporated.
  
• "Eli’s Joint Commission Compliance Advisor on Behavioral Health Care" 
  7/8/2009
  "How Has Your Facility Benefited From JC Accreditation?"  
  There are many reasons to become accredited. In this section, we're spotlighting facilities that have recently received JC accreditation and highlighting how it has helped them improve their patient care.
  
• San Antonio Express-News
  7/8/2009 
  "S.A. stroke patients get some positive news" 
  A year after public outcry about the lack of local accredited programs for stroke patients, basic emergency stroke care in Bexar County has reached a new level. Article describes key features of Joint Commission certification.
  
• Physicians Practice 
  7/7/2009 
  "How to talk to your partners" by Shelly K. Schwartz 
  Physicians are increasingly being called upon to coordinate the continuum of care for patients across the entire healthcare system. The consequences of failing to do so are almost too numerous to name.
  
• Quality Progress
  7/1/2009 
  Don't Just Talk the Talk" by  Nicole Adrian
  Many companies and organizations talk big about knowing the best way other businesses and groups can work to drive continuous and process improvement. Often, these businesses don't take their own advice. Once in a while, however, a group comes along that can walk the talk. The Joint Commission has proven it can do just that.
• Providence Journal
  7/1/2009  
  "R.I. hospitals agree on safety protocol for surgeries" by Felice Freyer
  All the hospitals and outpatient surgical centers in Rhode Island have agreed to follow the same process to prevent errors in surgery. The protocol was developed over 18 months of consultation with hospital and health-care leaders and the Joint Commission, the agency that accredits hospitals.

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June 2009

• Infection Control Today 
  6/24/09
  "Joint Commission Offers Seasonal Flu Immunization Strategies" 
  Seasonal influenza in healthcare workers is a personal health threat, but also poses a significant risk to the patients in their care. In an effort to help healthcare organizations improve the rate of healthcare worker influenza vaccinations, The Joint Commission is releasing a monograph “Providing a Safer Environment for Health Care Personnel and Patients Through Influenza Vaccination: Strategies from Research and Practice.”  
  
• Baltimore Sun
  6/23/09
  "Healing the Hospitals" by Michael Jhin 
  While health care reform is a top priority for the Obama administration, hospitals need a remedy now. Hospitals themselves must change from the inside out to become well-run enterprises. By analyzing the millions of day-to-day processes and interactions - from patient admissions to Medicare billings - hospital staff can then implement the changes needed to make their facilities more efficient.
  
• HealthLeaders
  6/19/2009
  "Tracer Methodology Improves Patient Care Process" by Matt Phillion
  Tracer methodology, used by The Joint Commission since 2004, has increased the focus on the patient care process at the point of care. This can be a major advantage in that the surveyors are tracing the actual services and care that patients receive.  
• Tampa Tribune  
  6/15/2009
  "Be involved, avoid medical mistakes" 
  Medical mistakes are some of the most devastating problems in health care - mostly because they are often preventable. As a patient, you can play an important role in helping to prevent mistakes. The Joint Commission, an independent nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies health care
  organizations across the country, offers some tips so patients can help prevent errors in their care.
  
• ADVANCE for Nurses
  6/11/2009 
  "Regulating Civility Among Nurses" by Paula Nania
  On July 9, 2008, the Joint Commission issued a new leadership standard (LD .03.01.01) which became effective Jan. 1. As a result, accredited hospitals must now have a code of conduct that defines acceptable and disruptive and inappropriate behaviors. Also, leaders must create and implement a process for managing disruptive and inappropriate behaviors. Article discusses Joint Commission's involvement in the issue outlines detailed Joint Commission recommendations.
  
• HealthLeaders
  6/8/2009  
  "Most Hospitals Working Toward Creating Strong Cultures of Safety" by Heather Comak
  Building and maintaining a culture of safety has become a key part of a patient safety program. Since the Institute of Medicine's To Err is Human was published 10 years ago, the healthcare industry has made a concerted effort to focus more energy on creating systems by which patients are kept more safe, and staff members are set up to succeed. Article quotes sources who say Joint Commission is a key presence and a major motivator.
  
• Infection Control Today 
  6/1/2009 
  "The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals: Implications for Infection Preventionists" by Kathleen Stoessel
  The implementation of the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goal No. 7: “Reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections” is a critical aspect of any infection prevention program. Active involvement in this process will help ensure accreditation and improve patient safety and optimal outcomes.
  
• Journal of Urgent Care Medicine 
  6/1/09
  "Toward Ensuring Patient Safety in Urgent Care" by Phillip Disraeli
  Creating a safety culture in the urgent care clinic starts with proper hand washing before ever seeing a patient and ends with transitioning care out of the practice - and includes close attention to every detail in between. Reducing healthcare-associated infections is one of The Joint Commission's major National Patient Safety Goals for 2009.
  
• South Florida Sun-Sentinel
  6/1/2009  
  "Medical equipment: In buying medical supplies, weigh price vs. quality, service, insurance" by Bob LaMendola
  South Floridians can choose among more than 800 local medical distributors  — plus drugstores — to buy health supplies, equipment and devices. Even more outlets await online. With so many choices, how do you find a good one? Article includes extensive quotes and insights from Margherita Labson."
  
• Journal of Urgent Care Medicine 
  6/1/09
  "Toward Ensuring Patient Safety in Urgent Care" by Phillip Disraeli
  Creating a safety culture in the urgent care clinic starts with proper hand washing before ever seeing a patient and ends with transitioning care out of the practice - and includes close attention to every detail in between. Reducing healthcare-associated infections is one of The Joint Commission's major National Patient Safety Goals for 2009.

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May 2009

• AHA News
  5/26/2009  
  "The Joint Commission takes on new challenges" by Ann Scott Blouin
  Health care organizations must strive to behave like high reliability organizations. High reliability organizations manage serious hazards extremely well and are preoccupied with systems and process
  failures, tracking even the smallest breakdowns. Article is authored by Ann Blouin and discusses Joint Commission's role in resources for quality improvement.
  
• AARP Bulletin
  5/15/2009  
  "Asking Doctors Tough Questions" by Cathie Gandel
  Asking the right questions just might save your life. It’s a message that can’t be repeated often enough. Study after study has shown that good communication and patient safety are inexorably linked. Article features Joint Commission statistics, quote from Cathy Barry-Ipema, questions from Speak Up and a listing of and link to Speak Up.
  
• Modern Healthcare
  5/15/2009  
  "Public losing patience regarding quality: Chassin" by Andis Robeznieks Healthcare is seeing unprecedented gains in quality and safety, but the public is losing patience with what it considers the slow pace of improvement, said Joint Commission President Mark Chassin while delivering a keynote address this morning at the Society of Hospital Medicine’s annual meeting being held in Chicago. Article profiles Mark Chassin's address.
  
• Modern Healthcare
  5/11/2009  
  "The 50 Most Powerful Physician Executives in Healthcare, 2009" by Andis Robeznieks
  Power is often measured by the resources people have at their disposal—with money, number of employees or even political influence often at the top of the list. Article profiles Mark Chassin as one of the top most influential and includes several quotes.
  
• ADVANCE for Administrators of the Laboratory
  5/6/2009  
  "Positive Patient Outcomes" by Margaret Peck
  Safe, quality patient care is highly dependent on the excellence of laboratory services, yet laboratories quite often rely on external processes and staff that impact its ability to provide timely, quality results. An accurate evaluation of the entire testing process must focus on the multidimensional nature of laboratory quality, which is what takes The Joint Commission's accreditation process beyond the walls of the lab. Article is authored by Margaret Peck. The article is an update on Joint Commission policies and discusses accreditation as looking at the continuum of care."
  
• OR Today
  May-2009  
  "What's Being Done to Prevent Wrong-Site Surgery?" by Cynthia Halvorson
  We are all too familiar with reports of errors in surgical procedures. Although healthcare reporting databases suggest that these sentinel events are infrequent, to the public any such occurrence is shocking and undermines confidence in the healthcare system. The Joint Commission has monitored sentinel event statistics since 1995. Article features in-depth profile of sentinel event statistics and Joint Commission initiatives such as Universal Protocol, Collaborating Centre.
  
• Building Operating Management
  May-09 
  "As H1N1 Flu Danger Grows, Hospitals More Prepared For Pandemic, Report Finds" by Brandon Lorenz
  If the swine flu outbreak becomes a pandemic, facility professionals at health care buildings would face an enormous challenge: keeping the facilities open as patient loads surge to record levels. Article features extensive quotes and insights from Jerry Gervais on key components of emergency response plans.
  

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April 2009

• American Medical News
  4/30/2009  
  "Patient safety experts see aviation group as model for health care" by Kevin O'Reilly
  Patient safety experts have long touted the aviation industry's use of checklists and foolproof communication procedures as a model for how doctors and hospitals can reduce the toll of medical errors. Now a group of prominent physicians and quality experts argues that health care should copy a voluntary public-private aviation safety partnership that has reduced fatal crashes by more than half since the mid-1990s. Article mentions Jerod Loeb as a co-author of the model and features quotes from Loeb.
  
• BusinessWeek
  4/23/2009 
  "The Mad Dash to Digitize Medical Records" by Chad Terhune, Keith Epstein, Catherine Arnst
  Under the federal stimulus program enacted in February, hospitals can seek several million dollars apiece for tech purchases over the next five years. Individual physicians can receive up to $44,000. These carrots should encourage the proliferation of technology that will computerize physician orders, automate dispensing of drugs, and digitally store patient records. Article discusses the cost and quality of implementing HIT and makes reference to Joint Commission's Alert on the issue.
  
• Outpatient Surgery E-Weekly
  4/21/2009  
  "Joint Commission Demystifies Hand Hygiene Benchmarking" by Kent Steinriede
  Is a surgical facility with a 95 percent compliance rate for hand hygiene safer than one with 75 percent compliance? Not necessarily, says the Joint Commission. The 2 facilities may not be measuring the same criteria. Article is a feature on the hand hygiene monograph. Strategies contained in the monograph are highlighted.
  
• American Medical News
  4/16/2009  
  "1 in 5 Medicare patients readmitted within a month after hospital release" by Kevin O'Reilly
  Nearly 20% of Medicare patients discharged from hospitals were readmitted within 30 days, costing taxpayers $17.4 billion, according to an April 2 study in the New England Journal of Medicine. "It is the discontinuity of care in transitioning from inpatient care to ambulatory care that is the source of the problem," said Paul M. Schyve, MD, senior vice president of the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals. Article features further recommendations from Paul Schyve.
  
• Wall Street Journal
  4/15/2009  
  "Guidelines for Heart Care Show Promise" by Laura Landro
  A push to get hospitals to follow prescribed treatment guidelines is showing promising results in improving care for stroke and heart-attack patients and preventing repeat hospitalizations for those with heart failure. Article mentions Joint Commission involvement in developing the guidelines.
  
• The New Health Dialogue Blog
  4/9/2009  
  "Quality: Reducing Hospital Readmissions" by Kyle Noonan
  Unplanned rehospitalizations are expensive for the Medicare program and bad for patients. They are also far too common in modern American medicine. Paul M. Schyve, M.D, vice president of the Joint Commission, a quality accreditation organization, emphasized that patients need to be involved in tackling readmissions. Column features comments from Paul Schyve.
  
• Chicago Tribune
  4/7/2009 
  "Preventing Hospital Readmissions: What People Can Do" by Judy Graham
  Last week, a report in the New England Journal of Medicine gave new details about a serious problem: large numbers of seniors who return to medical centers, sick and needing assistance, after a recent hospital stay. With that in mind, I asked Dr. Anne-Marie Audet, a vice president at the Commonwealth Fund, and Dr. Paul Schyve, a senior vice president at the Joint Commission, to discuss how older people and their caregivers can prevent hospital readmissions. The Commonwealth Fund is a health care foundation; the Joint Commission accredits hospitals and other medical institutions.Article features numerous quotes from Paul Schyve on how to prevent hospital readmissions and includes a link to ""Planning Your Followup Care"" by Joint Commission.
  
• American Medical News
  4/6/2009 
  "AMA Participation on the Joint Commission a Win-Win" by Joseph M. Heyman, MD
  You may or may not know much about the Joint Commission, depending on your role in medicine. But I guarantee that it affects you every day. It is the accrediting body for more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Article is a commentary on the value of Joint Commission's purpose and work.
  
• Wall Street Journal
  4/1/2009  
  "In the Hospital, Facing a Scourge of Killer Clots" by Laura Landro
  Deep-vein thrombosis, or DVT, is commonly associated with long-haul air travel, where passengers are confined to cramped spaces for many hours. Now, a growing number of hospitals are moving to do a better job of averting life-threatening clots. Article mentions Joint Commission's efforts to collect and report data.
  

March 2009

• Modern Healthcare
  3/23/2009  
  "Launching Satellites" by Jean DerGurahian
  While the concept of free-standing EDs has been around for decades, only in the past few years have hospitals and private companies started to eye those facilities as a way to alleviate congested patient flow. The Joint Commission has its own methods for determining what’s a free-standing ED. Article highlights what the ambulatory program evaluates and includes statements from Michael Kulczycki and Beverly Robins.
  
• Modern Healthcare
  3/16/2009 
  "Culturally Aware" by Jean DerGurahian
  "The cultural guidelines endorsed recently by the National Quality Forum represent the latest effort to mesh cultural competency into patient-safety and quality-of-care initiatives, hospital executives said. Hospitals welcomed the Joint Commission’s standards plan last year, saying more focus on cultural diversity was needed. Article describes the move to become more aware of cultural diversity and the need for standards to serve as guidance."
  
• KFYR-TV
  3/13/2009  
  "Patients encouraged to speak up about concerns" by Anne Kelly
  Doctors go to school for a long time to be able to make decisions about our health and well-being, but those decisions can`t be made properly unless they`re fully communicating with patients. That`s why this week The Joint Commission, a non-profit which advocates for safe, high quality health care, is urging patients to speak up and discuss concerns and questions with their doctors. Article also highlights key point of Speak Up.
  
• Oprah Winfrey Show
  3/10/2009   
  Interview with Mehmet Oz  
  Make sure the hospital is accredited. How do you do that? The Joint Commission, that's the group that we work with so closely. They're one of the nation's health safety watchdog organizations. Interview segment mentions that Joint Commission is looking at what hospitals do. The show's web site contains a link to You: The Smart Patient.
  
• Dermatology Times
  3/6/2009    
  "Procedural safety requires accountability, proactive approach" by John Jesitus
  Whether one works in a private office or hospital outpatient setting,  maximizing patient safety in procedural dermatology demands taking nothing for granted.The days of name and blame are ending,as they are being supplanted by a spirit of awareness and a proactive approach to preventing medical mishaps. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Joint Commission’s recently unveiled National Patient Safety Goals. Article also discuss the depth of the Universal Protocol.
  
• New York Times
  3/6/2009   
  "Staying Well in a New Place" by Billie Cohen
  IT’S no fun being sick. And it’s even worse when you’re someplace where you don’t have a doctor or aren’t familiar with local health care options. Neither situation is too far-fetched for many second-home owners. Once you’ve settled on your insurance plan, get to know the service options in your region. When it comes to a local hospital, Dr. Hallisy urged looking into whether it’s accredited by the Joint Commission, an independent nonprofit group that certifies health care facilities nationwide. Article also mentions Quality Check as a good resource for patients.
  
• WBALtv.com
  3/5/2009   
  "Program Offers Patient Care Tips"
  Next week is National Patient Safety Awareness Week, and the Joint Commission said by learning some of its tips, you can save your own life or thatof someone you love from medical mistakes. Article provides details about the Speak Up campaign.
  
• Wall Street Journal
  3/4/2009  
  "Finding a Way to Ask Doctors Tough Questions" by Laura Landro
  Despite efforts by advocacy groups and others to empower patients, challenging a doctor or nurse on whether they are correctly doing their jobs remains downright intimidating. Signs and posters in hospitals urge us to "Speak Up" if we see a potential medical error. Many hospitals make use of the "Speak Up" campaign launched in 2002 by the Joint Commission, the nonprofit group that accredits hospitals. Article describes the campaign and features a quote from Mark Chassin.
  
• Hospitals & Health Networks
  3/1/2009
  "Plugging in a Nation" by Charlotte Huff
  To date, hospitals have embraced health information technology to widely varying degrees. Nearly 43 percent have implemented one or more major components of an electronic medical record. Article includes quotes from Bob Wise.
  
• For the Record
  March 20009   
  "Healthcare Technology - It's Not Foolproof" by Elizabeth Roop
  Health information and converging technologies can play a significant role in improving the nation’s healthcare system, but only if they are properly designed and implemented and appropriate consideration is given to the impact they can have on care processes, workflow, and safety. That was the message sent by The Joint Commission last December with the release of a Sentinel Event Alert about safely implementing HIT and converging technologies. Article details the Alert, suggested actions and includes quotes from Mark Chassin.
  
• Pain Medicine News
  3/1/2009 
  "Med Group to Pain Patients: 'If You Feel Something Say Something" by John Dillon
  Recognizing that too many people needlessly suffer in silence, The Joint Commission has launched a new campaign to help patients better manage their pain. The initiative's upshot: if you feel something, say something. Article gives and in-depth profile of the Speak Up campaing and features quotes from Bob Wise.
  
• Immediate Care Business
  March/April 2009  
  "Joint Commission Accreditation" by Michael Kulczycki
  For our ambulatory care accreditation program we use a customer advisory council to give us input on strategic issues in the business environment that affect an organization's ability to be accredited. Article highlights the accreditation program and tracer methodology.
  
• Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
  March/April 2009
  "National Patient Safety Goals and Barcoding" by Mark Neuenschwander
  As someone who expects to be a patient some day, I'm a believer in The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs). The first goal of the 2009 version expects hospitals to "improve the accuracy of [patient] identification." Article details the intent of the NPSG and situations where it applies.
  
  

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February 2009

• Austin American-Statesman
  2/28/2009  
  Commentary "Speak up about pain" 
  Many of us don't know what to expect from pain relievers or how to best advocate for ourselves and our loved ones who have pain. The first step toward fixing the problem is to begin a national conversation on pain between patients, health care providers and related organizations. One such step is already underway: The Joint Commission recently launched a campaign to encourage patients to talk about their pain. Commentary discusses specifics of the Speak Up campaign on pain.
  
• Healthcare IT News
  2/26/2009   
  "Hospitals turn to IT to help with patient handoffs" by Bernie Monegain
  The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System is among a growing number of hospitals rolling out technology to boost the patient hand-off process. A study published in the October Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety reported that handoffs could contribute to preventable injuries not resulting from a patient's underlying medical condition. Article sites details of the study.
  
• Hickory Daily Record
  2/15/2009    
  "Washing Hands Saves Lives" by Monica Young
  Turn on the water, lather, scrub and rinse - hand washing seems too simple to become an award-winning caveat for Novant Health. Their diligence won them the national winner of the 2008 Ernest A. Codman Award from The Joint Commission, the agency responsible for accrediting health systems. Article describes the award as prestigious and describes some of the criteria.
  
• Cincinnati Business Courier
  2/13/2009  
  "Get your attitude together commission tells clinicians" by James Ritchie
  In any hospital, there are tales of doctors behaving badly. Nurses know who the testy ones are. The Joint Commission, health care's main accrediting body, set up rules effective January 1 requiring health care organizations to have a code of conduct defining unacceptable behaviors and how they will be handled. Article cites details of the alert and features statement an examples that support Joint Commission's position.
  
• American Medical News 
  2/12/2009 
  "Hospital error-reporting systems falling short" by Kevin O'Reilly 
  "A new study finds that data about mistakes often go nowhere. Experts say reports must yield safety changes for doctors to see their value.  Article includes quotes and insight from Jerod Loeb, a study co-author."
  
• JAMA 
  2/11/2009 
  "Joint Commission Offers Warnings, Advice on Adopting New Health Care IT Systems" by Mike Mitka 
  The introduction of information technology (IT) to health care ultimately promises to lower operating costs and improve quality and safety. But the implementation of that technology often means unfulfilled expectations and unanticipated consequences. On December 11, the Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Event Alert warning of these issues and suggesting ways to minimize problems. Article is an extensive feature on the Alert and details guidelines and recommendations.
  
• Nursing Spectrum
  2/9/2009   
  "Promoting a culture of safety to prevent medical errors" by Maureen Habel
  As many as 98,000 American die each year of largely preventable medical errors, according to the IOM's 1999 report To Err is Human. The Joint Commission has taken a leadership role in promoting patient safety through its sentinel event reporting program and National Patient Safety Goals. Article details these efforts, gives statistics and discusses the benefits of the Sentinel Event program. Article also mentions Joint Commission's experience and expertise.
  
• Advance for Nurse Practitioners
  2/3/2009 
  "Engaging Cultural Competence" by Kristen Ziegler 
  On the heels of an extensive 60-hospital survey examining how hospitals respond to patients' diverse cultural and language needs, the Joint Commission has convened a task force to develop new standards for culturally competent patient-centered care. Article gives an in-depth description of Joint Commission efforts, the Hospitals, Language and Culture project and includes quotes from Paul Schyve and Amy Wilson-Stronks.
  
• Pharmacy Practice News
  2/1/2009
  "Plan Pushes Preparedness Via Mass Flu Vaccinations" by Bruce Buckley
  Worries about the U.S. economy may have elbowed aside another major national concern-the threat of a bioterrorism attack-but many hospital continue to remain vigilant with emergency preparedness exercises designed to keep their focus sharp. Another motivator was The Joint Commission's 2007 issuance of  a new standard requiring hospitals and long term care facilities to offer influenza vaccinations to all staff. Article portrays the standards as contributing to the efforts already underway in hospitals.
  
• Clinical Nurse Specialist 
  2/1/2009 
  "Readability and Patient Education Materials Used for Low-Income Populations" by Meg Wilson 
  More that 90 million Americans have low levels of health literacy that may contribute to poor health outcomes. The Jont Commission's National Patient Safety Goals provide a framework for healthcare organizations to address patient-provider communication barriers. Article details Joint Commission efforts in this area, including the white paper.  
  
• SurgiStrategies 
  2/1/2009 
  "Accreditation is a Key Differentiator in the Competitive Surgical Marketplace" by Kelly Pyrek 
  As an owner/operator of an outpatient healthcare facility, accreditation of your center may be something you have put off, but this process can pay invaluable dividends. SurgiStrategies asked leaders within three major accreditation agencies to share their insights. Article features extensive comments from Michael Kulczycki on trends and Joint Commission activity.
  

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January 2009

• Forbes 
  1/27/2009 
  "How to choose the right hospital" by Rebecca Ruiz 
  Health consumers now have access to more information about quality and safety at hospitals than ever before. They can use the Internet to find out what percent of surgery patients are given antibiotics at the right time, how many heart attack patients are given aspirin upon arrival, or even what percent die of pneumonia while hospitalized. Article includes quotes and insights from Jerod Loeb, describes what Joint Commission tracks.
  
• Kansas City Star
  1/26/2009 
  "KC-area experts help institute reformulate drugs for young patients" by Jason Gertzen "Crushing pills to mix new batches of medicine and hoping for the best can be a poor way to treat sick children. With the current system, pediatric patients commonly receive improper doses of medicine, according to a 2008 alert issued by the Joint Commission, a nonprofit health-care quality watchdog. Article cites Joint Commission research."
  
• Nurse.com
  1/26/2009 
  "Joint Commission RN Says Developing Failsafe Systems Can Improve Care" by Cathryn Domrose "If the healthcare industry were an airline, Ann Blouin, RN, PhD, wouldn't fly. ""I don't think most people would,"" says Blouin, executive vice president in the division of accreditation and certification operations at The Joint Commission. The highest-ranking nurse on the commission and the first nurse to hold the position, Blouin would eventually like to see healthcare organizations have safety records similar to those of airlines, aircraft carriers, or nuclear plants. Article features extensive insight and comments from Ann Blouin on her perspective on industry reliability."
  
• American Medical News 
  1/15/2009 
  "Technology used wrongly harms patients, Joint Commission warns" by Kevin O'Reilly 
  The Joint Commission has confirmed what many physicians have long suspected: For all the hope that gee-whiz technology can improve quality and safety, even the smartest machines can lead to medical errors. Article takes an in-depth look at Joint Commission recommendations and includes quotes from Mark Chassin.
  
• Associated Press 
  1/14/2009 
  "Study: Basic checklist cut surgical deaths in half" by Mike Stobbe 
  Doctors worldwide who followed a checklist of steps like these cut the death rate fromcsurgery almost in half and complications by more than a third in a large international study of how to avoid blatant operating room mistakes. In the U.S., the Joint Commission, which accredits most hospitals and sets standards for them, said it is considering adopting more of the steps. The agency already requires three of them, including marking the incision site and pausing before surgery to make sure everything is in place.
  
• COPDNewsoftheDay.com 
  1/14/2009 
  "Speak Up! Help Prevent Errors in Your Medical Care" by Karen Bastille 
  Everyone has a role in making health care safe. That includes doctors, health care executives, nurses and many health care technicians. Health care organizations all across the country are working to make health care safe. Article mentions Speak Up, Joint Commission accreditation and Quality Check as tools patients can use to be active in care.
  
• Modern Healthcare 
  1/12/2009 
  "Pelletier joins commission" by Jean DerGurahian 
  The Joint Commission continues to shore up its leadership staff with providersthat have hospital experience in the appointment of Mark Pelletier. Article cites Mark Pelletier's experience in the field and includes a quote on bringing in this expertise.
  
• Las Vegas Review-Journal
  1/11/2009 
  "Increasing number avoid transfusions" by Annette Wells 
  "According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, heart-surgery patients who had transfusions with blood stored more than 14 days do worse than those who receive newer blood. It found in hospital death rates, incidence of complications and long-term death rates were higher for those who received older blood. Article cites Joint Commission as looking to develop performance measures in this area."
  
• World News Forecast 
  1/1/2009 
  "Canada gets tough on healthcare-acquired infections"  
  A low rate of handwashing by healthcare workers, drug-resistant germs in hospitals and rampant infections make frequent headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. Beginning in January, Canadian healthcare facilities will be unable to obtain accreditation unless they crack down on the first problem, which is seen as a lowtech but effective way to curb infections. Article includes a quote from Louise Kuhny on the importance of requirements.
  
• Pharmacy Practice News
  1/1/2009   
  "Joint Commission Sentinel Event Warns: Technology Not a Cure-all for Drug Errors" by Cornelia Kean 
  Cutting edge health information technology and related devices can acutally jeopardize the quality and safety of patient care if not implemented wisely, according to a new Sentinel Event Alert from The Joint Commission. Article details information and recommendation from the Alert and includes quotes from Mark Chassin.
  
• Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 
  1/1/2009 
  "Zero: What is it and how do we get there?" by Victoria Fraser, MD 
  So, how did we get to the point that people are actually talking about eliminating HAIs? Ten years ago, the very thought was inconceivable, now it's front and center. The Joint Commission prioritized systems and guidelines for infection prevention in hospitals. Commentary summarizes Joint Commission initiatives in this area and portrays Joint Commission as a convener and leader among others.
  
• Hospitals & Health Networks 
  1/1/2009 
  "Hospital of the Future' report urges major changes" 
  "A report from the Joint Commission offers guiding principles and actions for the hospital of the future to meet the daunting challenges of older and sicker patients, patient safety and quality of care, economics and the workforce. Article details the paper's recommendations."
  
• Physician Executive 
  1/1/2009 
  "A New Approach, A New Agenda"by Diane Shannon 
  Find out what's on the mind of the president of The Joint Commission, a year after he took charge of the accrediting agency. ACPE spoke with Dr. Mark Chassin about the changes The Joint Commission has undergone in the past few years and his plans for new initiatives. This in-depth interview focuses on Mark Chassin's insights on initiatives, accreditation and where Joint Commission is headed.
  
• Nursing 
  1/1/2009 
  "Sidestepping unsafe abbreviations"by Cheryl A. Burke, RN 
  By avoiding unapproved medication abbreviations, you decrease the risk of harm caused by medication errors and improve the quality of patient care. Our medication safety project is an example of successful performance improvement project. We attribute the success of this project to our staff's commitment to quality care and patient safety and its commitment to comply with The Joint Commission's NPSGs. Article describes an organization's quality improvement initiative and attributes success to compliance with Joint Commission NPSGs.
  
• HME Business
  1/1/2009 
  "Accreditation: Now or Never" by Joseph Duffy 
  The accreditation countdown clock no longer ticks: instead, each lost second beats like a sonic boom, warning many HME providers that the health of their business relies on hitting two important deadlines. Margherita C. Labson, RN, associate director for the Home Care Accreditation Program with The Joint Commission, offers these preparation tips for helping the process move smoothly. Article features insights on what HME providers should be doing, and includes extensive comments from Margherita Labson.
  
• Pharmacy Practice News
  1/1/2009   
  "Joint Commission Sentinel Event Warns: Technology Not a Cure-all for Drug Errors" by Cornelia Kean 
  Cutting edge health information technology and related devices can acutally jeopardize the quality and safety of patient care if not implemented wisely, according to a new Sentinel Event Alert from The Joint Commission. Article details information and recommendation from the Alert and includes quotes from Mark Chassin.
  
  

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December 2008

• Associated Press 
  December 30, 2008 
  "Nabbing infections with technology"  
  Pennsylvania health officials view the nascent technology as a critical tool for helping hospitals reduce health care costs by identifying potential systemic infection-control problems sooner than is possible by reviewing paper records by hand — an approach some health professionals call "shoe-leather epidemiology." Article mentions Joint Commission as a national accrediting body and includes a quote from Louise Kuhny. 
  
• Colorado Springs Business Journal 
  December 26, 2008 
  "Patient quality and safety shouldn’t take a back seat to technology" by Amy Gillentine 
  Technology often is touted as the cure for health care, but a Joint Commission alert warns that implementing technology could jeopardize the quality and safety of patient care. The alert urges greater attention to understanding when a technology might be applicable. Article highlights Joint Commission recommendations and includes quotes from Mark Chassin.
  
• ACP News 
  December 23, 2008  
  "A passion for quality improvement, right from the start" by Jessica Berthold 
  In a personal interest interview with ACP News, Joint Commission president Mark Chassin, MD, reflects on his first job, most meaningful accomplishment, future goals and other perspectives.
  
• The News Sentinel
  December 17, 2008 
  "Hospitals of the Future" by Jennifer Boen 
  Combining high tech with high-touch care. Caring for aging patients by an aging nursing staff. These are among the dichotomies hospital leaders face today and must find solutions for tomorrow, says a report published in November by The Joint Commission. Article details the ideas an recommendations set forth in the white paper. Other quotes support the need for organizations to address these issues.
  
• Kalamazoo Gazette 
  December 16, 2008  
  "Rating hospitals: How much faith should you put in quality surveys?" by Linda S. Mah
  "Hospitals have increased their emphasis on quality control and attacked the problem of hospital errors and patient safety. One of the results has been the increased use of independent quality measures. Article mentions Joint Commission as a highly regarded quality organization that does not sugarcoat information and looks at a broad range of measures."
  
• Modern Healthcare 
  December 8, 2008 
  "Raising the industry to the bar" by Jean Dergurahian 
  "Channeling his background as a physician and educator, Mark Chassin, president of the Joint Commission, explains to an audience of quality and patient-safety professionals just how the changes to his organization are going to help them. Article is a profile of Mark Chassin's first year as Joint Commission president - what has changed, his initiatives and actions, what he has learned and his vision." 
  
• New York Times 
  December 2, 2008 
  "Arrogant, Abusive and Disruptive - and a Doctor" by Laurie Tarkan
  Recent studies suggest that such behavior contributes to medical mistakes, preventable complications and even death. “It is the health care equivalent of road rage,” said Dr. Peter B. Angood, chief patient safety officer at the Joint Commission, the nation’s leading independent hospital accreditation agency. Article includes extensive comments and insights from Peter Angood.
• AAP News 
  December 1, 2008 
  "Agency affirms validity of 'standing orders" by Laurie O'Keefe
  "Pediatricians and others are breathing easier now that a federal agency has clarified the validity of "standing orders" in hospitals. Robert Wise, MD, vice president of Standards and Survey Methods at The Joint Commission called the clarification sweeping in its effects. Article mentions Joint Commission's efforts behind the clarification, includes extensive insights and quotes from Bob Wise.
  
• Plastic Surgical Nursing
  December 1, 2008 
  "The Joint Commission Update for Peri-operative services 2009" by Kathleen Catalano 
  Knowledge of The Joint Commission standards, rationales, EPs and NPSGs is an excellent way to promote patient safety and the quality of care. Article details the SII initiative, new standards chapters and EPs, and mentions that this is part of Joint Commission's continuous efforts.
  
• Hospitals & Health Networks
  December 1, 2008
  "No Bad Apples" by Terese Thrall 
  Disruptive behavior hurts staff morale and endangers patients. Now the Joint Commission insists that you to do something about it. Article states that Joint Commission has determined it is time to crack down, details the Alert's recommendations and includes quotes from Mark Chassin and Peter Angood.
  
• Today's Surgicenter 
  December 1, 2008 
  "Industry Leaders Reflect on '08, Predict '09 Trends"by Kelly Pyrek 
  The ambulatory surgery industry is attempting to maintain its equilibrium in the midst of mayhem. Article features comments from industry leaders and includes extensive comments from Michael Kulczycki. 

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November 2008

• Nurse.com 
  November 28, 2008  
  "Joint Commission Seeks Flu-shot Program Examples" 
  "The Joint Commission is seeking examples of programs that have increased influenza immunization rates among healthcare personnel, it said in anticipation of an education and publicity push in mid-2009. Vaccination of healthcare personnel against influenza remains low despite documented benefits on patient outcomes, lower staff absenteeism, and fewer infections among staff, it said. Article describes Joint Commission efforts, requirements and includes a quote from Jerod Loeb." 
  
• Running a Hospital 
  November 19, 2008 
  "At The Joint Commission" by  Paul Levy 
  "Let's look beyond the particular measures and find out ""where's the beef"" in real improvement so we can focus on the most important things. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of evidence as to what those are, both in the hospital setting and other settings. And, in a time of scarce resources, we need to be cognizant that the Joint Commission itself influences how those resources of used. Blog article summarizes Mark Chassin's speech at annual conference, includes direct quotes, and highlights Chassin's efforts at Joint Commission."
  
• Cardiology Today 
  November 19, 2008  
  "Joint Commission issues recommendations for anticoagulation therapy, safety". 
  "The Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Event Alert and held a press conference to address the safety of anticoagulant therapy. The alert offers recommendations and information about medication errors and the drug-related risks of heparin, warfarin and low–molecular-weight heparin. Article details the Alert's recommendations and includes quotes from Mark Chassin and Peter Angood."
   
• Drug Topics 
  November 10, 2008 
  "Anticoagulant safety strategies include pharmacy oversight" by Alaina Scott 
  The Joint Commission issued a sentinel event alert titled "preventing errors related to commonly used anticoagulants" which reviewed common errors and dealing with anticoagulant medications and strategies for risk reduction. The article details the Alert's recommendations and profiles how Joint Commission's requirements and strategies should be used in the health care setting.
  
• Outpatient Surgery Magazine 
  November 1, 2008 
  "Don't Reinvent the Wheel - Just Mark the Site" by Dan O'Connor 
  The Joint Commission's Universal Protocol explicitly spells out the who, what, when, where and why of surgical site marking, the best defense you have against wrong-site surgery. Article promotes use of the Protocol, how it has spurred safety efforts in hospitals and includes a quote from Peter Angood.
  
• Enterprise Imaging 
  November 1, 2008 
  "Apologies Accepted" by David Gourley 
  Apologizing is even more difficult in the health care setting, where a loved one's life is the subject of the redress. The Joint Commission's Sentinel Event Policy and Procedures provides health care organizations with a structure to investigate and report medical errors. Article mentions requirement of Joint Commission standards.
  
• Metro Magazine 
  November 1, 2008 
  "Technology Changing the Face of Medicine" by Anthony Vecchione  
  Patient safety experts have been pushing for the elimination of paper-based prescriptions and the creation of an electronic medical record (EMR) that could be accessible anywhere throughout the healthcare enterprise. CPOE cannot only help establish an electronic record, but it would also contribute to the reduction in the number of errors at the prescribing stage. Article cites Joint Commission as America's most powerful accrediting body and its influence on hospitals to adopt technology to prevent errors.

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October 2008

• Wall Street Journal 
  October 29, 2008
  "Hospitals Seek to Limit Use of Transfusions" by Laura Landro 
  Amid rising blood costs and mounting safety concerns about transfusions, hospitals are adopting stricter measures to manage their blood supplies. The nonprofit Joint Commission, the leading hospital-accreditation group, assembled a task force of blood-management experts. Article mentions Joint Commission efforts on this issue.
  
• Cupertino Courier 
  October 24, 2008
  "Local stroke centers on mission to provide best care"by Tiffany Carney 
  Today, there are eight certified primary stroke centers in Santa Clara County — more than any other county in the nation. The primary stroke center certification is administered by The Joint Commission based on a review of the hospital's "stroke alert" team, stroke-detecting equipment and the acute care given to the patient, starting with the person's arrival. Article describes the benefits of certified centers and describes the level of such centers.
  
• Renalbusiness.com 
  October 10, 2008  
  "Science-based strategies take aim at HAIs" 
  For the first time, five healthcare leaders have collaborated to publish science-based strategies in a new compendium to help prevent the six most important healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The work is called the Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals. Article details Joint Commission involvement and includes extensive comments from Bob Wise.
  
• New York Times 
  October 9, 2008 
  "Infection Control Guidelines Issued" by Kevin Sack 
  Hoping to improve infection control in hospitals, the nation’s top epidemiological societies joined Wednesday with the American Hospital Association and the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals, to issue a compendium of guidelines for preventing six lethal conditions. Article details the strategies, mentions that they will have teeth due to backing of groups such as Joint Commission, and includes comments from Bob Wise.
  
• U.S. News & World Report 
  October 7, 2008 
  "Pediatricians Would Admit Error Only Half the Time"  by Amanda Gardner 
  "Medication errors, never a pleasant subject, are particularly tricky when it comes to children and their often protective parents, experts say. Perhaps even less is known about errors in children, although that knowledge base is increasing as well. Article mentions release of Joint Commission Alert and some of its key recommendations." 
  
• Mental Health Weekly 
  October 6, 2008 
  "Push for performance measurement set tailored to hospitals comes to fruition" by Gary Enos 
  A field-driven process toward establishing a common set of performance measures for inpatient psychiatric services culminated last week with the October 1 official rollout of the measurement set by The Joint Commission. Article details Joint Commission efforts and collaboration in developing the measure set, includes positive statements about the measures' impacts, and includes comments from Celeste Milton.
  
• Journal of Ambulatory Care Management
  October 1, 2008 
  "Quality-related activities in federally supported health centers" by Lon Berkeley (and others) 
  Recent reports suggest the need for further study of the impact of  organizational characteristics on quality-related activities in health centers.  To better understand these issues, a cross-sectional assessment of quality-related activities in Health Resources and Services Administration-funded health centers was conducted using a mailed questionnaire.  In general, the frequency and type of most quality-related activities did not vary greatly by size and location, but differed by accreditation status. 
  
• AARC Times 
  October 1, 2008 
  "Pediatric Asthma Core Measures" by Brian K. Walsh  
  Despite the increasing prevalence of asthma, mortality is decreasing. However, there is still room for improvement. The pediatric asthma care performance measures can be traced back to the late 1990s when The Joint Commission solicited input from a wide variety of health care professionals. Article details Joint Commission's involvement in this issue and setting the precedent for core measures. 
  
• AORN Journal 
  October 1, 2008 
  "Bad Behavior Just Got Harder" by Patricia Seifert 
  Bad behavior may become less common because there is now a powerful incentive for change. Intimidating and disruptive behaviors are no longer acceptable according to The Joint Commission. Article details the Alert, the new standard and refers to them as potent.
  
• The American Nurse 
  October 1, 2008 
  "Behaving Badly?" by Susan Trossman  
  The Joint Commission recently issued a sentinel event alert that's aimed at stopping rude and disruptive behavior among health care professionals. Article describes the Alert's main recommendations, new standards and includes quotes from Mark Chassin. 
  
• AORN Journal 
  October 1, 2008 
  "Promoting a culture of safety by addressing bad behavior" by Suzanne C. Beyea 
  On July 9, 2008, The Joint Commission released a Sentinel Event Alert focused on behaviors that undermine safe, quality health care. The Sentinel Event Alert includes evidence that professionals with disruptive behaviors can negatively influence effective teamwork and communication and thus contribute to medical errors. Article details the Alert's recommendations.
  
• Outpatient Surgery Magazine 
  October 1, 2008 
  "Zero Tolerance for Wrong-Site Surgery" by Charlene DiNobille and Lisa Reed
  To catch wrong-site errors before it's too late, you must develop clear, step-by-step for verifying the correct surgical site both pre-operatively and intraoperatively. The Joint Commission's Universal Protocol, which provides specific recommendations for preventing wrong-site surgery, has been supported by more than 40 professional medical organizations. Article details the protocol and provides a link. 
  
• Pharmacy Practice News 
  October 1, 2008 
  "Cultural Competency Compliance on the Horizon" by Cornelia Kean
  In its continuing efforts to improve the quality of health care, The Joint Commission, with funding from The Commonwealth Fund, has begun developing accreditation standards for hospitals that will advance the provision of culturally competent patient-centered care. Article includes details about Joint Commission's efforts, rationale for standards development, positive third party quotes, and a quote from Paul Schyve. 

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September 2008

• Hutchinson News 
  September 30, 2008  
  "Accreditation part of hospitals plans" by Todd Laffoon and Meg Lanham
  "Joint Commission accreditation is completely voluntary and has nothing to do with authorization and licensing by the state. It is a certification hospitals seek in order tosignify a readiness to be surveyed and have processes independently monitored and verified at any time. We consider this accreditation integral to our long-term strategic plan. This letter by two hospital staff highlights the importance of and proven methods utilized by Joint Commission accreditation."
  
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 
  September 27, 2008 
  "Plenty of flu vaccine available this season" by Jill Daly
  National health officials promise that they have enough flu vaccine to protect people from the dominant strains of the disease that are expected to hit this fall and winter. Article mentions Joint Commission's participation in the flu vaccine challenge, highlights the importance of vaccinations, and profiles a hospital's participation.
  
• Chicago Tribune 
  September 25, 2008 
  "How to find a certified stroke center" by Judith Graham
  "In stroke care, as in most of medicine, there is substantial variation in medical institutions’ performance. Unfortunately, data is scarce. The best resource for consumers, so far, is the Joint Commission, an accreditation organization that started certifying hospitals as ""primary stroke centers"" in 2003 when they meet certain criteria. Article further details certification standards."
  
• AP 
  September 23, 2008 
  "Regulator says hospitals need strict heparin rules" by Lindsey Tanner
  A regulatory group told hospitals Wednesday to adopt strict measures to prevent errors involving blood thinners including heparin — mistakes that have been made nearly 60,000 times and led to dozens of deaths in recent years.  Article details recommendations and includes quotes from Mark Chassin.
  
• Advance for Nurses 
  September 22, 2008 
  "Stomping out Hostility" by Barbara Mercer  
  "Whether you feared the schoolyard bully or you were the schoolyard bully, it's time to take a new approach to how you communicate with the world. This recognition led the Joint Commission to issue a Sentinel Event Alert July 9, ""Behaviors that undermine a culture of safety,"" that specifically addresses the problem and includes steps healthcare organizations will be expected to implement Jan. 1, 2009. Article highlights recommendations made in the Alert and includes comments in support of the Alert and its intent."
  
• Journal Gazette 
  September 21, 2008  
  "Threat Assessment" by Michael Schroeder 
  To correct what it described as a prevalent problem, the Joint Commission is now requiring hospitals and other health care organizations to have a code of conduct that defines acceptable, disruptive and inappropriate behaviors. Article cites Alert specifics and states that hospitals are taking notice.
  
• Chicago Tribune 
  September 17, 2008  
  "Describing pain sensations, vividly" by Judith Graham
  "I wrote about how patients should be upfront about physical discomfort with caregivers a week ago. Now, there's a new brochure on this topic from the Joint Commission, an organization that accredits hospitals and nursing homes. It's part of their ""Speak Up"" campaign encouraging patients to communicate honestly with medical providers.  Article details content of the latest Speak Up campaign and lists the key question patients should ask. "
  
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 
  September 17, 2008  
  ASHP staff meets with Joint Commission's new president ASHP underscored the important role that pharmacists play in improving medication safety and quality in its first meeting with The Joint Commission's (TJC) new president, Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H.  The meeting continued ASHP's longstanding, productive relationship with TJC to address and solve complex medication-related problems.
  
• Healthcare Intelligence Network 
  September 16, 2008  
  "Chronic Pain Sufferers: Speak Up!" by Patricia Donovan
  "In pain? The Joint Commission is recommending that sufferers of chronic pain “speak up.” The Joint Commission is launching a national campaign to help Americans work with their healthcare professionals to better manage pain. Article details the Speak Up on pain and the campaign in general."
  
• New York Times 
  September 16, 2008  
  "E.R. Patients Often Left Confused after Visits" by Laurie Tarkan 
  A vast majority of emergency room patients are discharged without understanding the treatment they received or how to care for themselves once they get home, researchers say. And that can lead to medication errors and serious complications that can send them right back to the hospital. Dr. Paul M. Schyve, senior vice president of the Joint Commission, the main organization that accredits hospitals, said: “This study showed that this is much more common than you think. It’s not the rare patient.” Article states that hospitals are being forced to face communication inadequacies and includes additional comments from Paul Schyve.
  
  
• Wall Street Journal 
  September 15, 2008 
  "Many fail to spot symptoms of stroke; these aids can help" by Johanna Bennett 
  "Last year, 780,000 Americans suffered a stroke. Yet many suffer needless disability or die because they ignore the warning signs. At the Web site of the Joint Commission on  Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (www.qualitycheck.org), you can find hospitals  with the staff and resources to aggressively treat strokes. Article references Quality  Check, along with major stroke organizations, as a resource on where to find  stroke-related information."
  
• New York Times 
  September 15, 2008  
  "Small Patients, Big Consequences in Medical Errors" by Laurie Tarkan
  Medical mistakes, though also common in adults, can have more serious consequences in children, doctors say. An Institute of Medicine report nearly a decade ago highlighted the prevalence of medical errors, and they are still a major problem. “There’s been slow progress in the decline of these errors,” said Dr. Peter B. Angood, chief patient safety officer of the Joint Commission, the independent hospital accreditation agency. Article mentions Joint Commission statistics and further quotes Peter Angood.
  
• Modern Healthcare
  September 9, 2008
  "Challenging the Flu"
  It’s not exactly the Pepsi Challenge, but the Joint Commission thinks the “flu vaccination challenge” could help make hospitals safer. The commission wants to see hospitals beat that number in their own facilities, says Louise Kuhny, associate director of the standards interpretation group for the Joint Commission. Article describes the vaccination challenge, Joint Commission standards and includes additional comments from Louise Kuhny.
  
• AANN Synapse e-news
  September 8, 2008 
  "Q&A with The Joint Commission's Jean Range" by Jane Martinsons  
  "Jean Range, MS RN CPHQ, executive director, Disease-Specific Care CertificationProgram, The Joint Commission, recently spoke with Synapse E-News about the benefits and future direction of the certification program. Article is an in-depth inteview about the certification program and trends in care."
  
• Outpatient Surgery Magazine
  September 1, 2008
  "Tips to prevent medication errors" by Charlene DiNobille and Lisa Reed
  The most common type of medical error? Those associated with medications, says The Joint Commission in an April 2008 Sentinel Event Alert. To prevent medication errors at your facility, you must recognize the risks. Article details the Alert, Joint Commission policies and recommendations, and "do not use" list, suggesting that facilities review and follow them.
  
• Journal of Urgent Care Medicine 
  September 1, 2008  
  "UCAOA in the News" by Lee A. Resnick, MD
  The announcement of an alliance with The Joint Commission is big news indeed. The level of collaboration by The Joint Commission to create unique urgent care standards is unprecedented. Article highlights the benefits of this partnership and describes why Joint Commission is the gold standard. 

• Immediate Care Business
  September 1, 2008  
  "UCAOA Director Discusses Accreditation Partnership" 
  "The UCAOA recently partnered with the Joint Commission on an urgent care
  accreditation program. Lou Ellen Horwitz, MA, UCAOA executive director, discusses the details here. Throughout the article, UCAOA executive director mentions Joint Commission functions, standards and accreditation." 
  
• Provider
  September 1, 2008 
  "We Can Do This Better" by Joanne Kaldy
  Providers must work together to ensure that care transitions are safe and comfortable. The Joint Commission is including care transition in its accreditation requirements. "It was largely the Consumer Council with in The Joint Commission that was the lightning rod for promoting quality and safety during times of care hand-offs," says Eric Coleman, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at the University of Colorado. Article highlights Joint Commission involvement in this issue.
  
• Infection Control Today 
  September 1, 2008 
  "Medical Devices Pose Big Infection Threat" by Michelle Beaver 
  Healthcare workers have long been trying to prevent infections related to medical devices, but must try even harder as of October 1, 2008, when regulations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go into effect. "The beneficial side of the CMS changes and the Joint Commission's greater focus in this area has been that hospital administrations have become more cognizant of the issue of infection control," says Dennis Maki, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine.
  
• Modern Healthcare 
  September 1, 2008
  "Changing the culture" by Jean Dergurahian
  "The Joint Commission’s planned cultural-awareness standards might spur some hospitals to do more when it comes to diversity issues, experts say. The commission announced last week that it would develop hospital accreditation standards for culturally competent patient-centered care."

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August 2008

• Nurse.com 
  August 25, 2008
  "Beware of bullies" by Catherine Spader
  Bullying, intimidation, outbursts, condescending attitudes, and other disruptive behaviors among healthcare professionals and other employees will no longer be tolerated under new Joint Commission standards that take effect Jan. 1, 2009.
  
• Image 
  August 18, 2008  
  "Under the radar - inappropriate conduct in healthcare" by Jane Anthes
  To combat harassment, healthcare facilities should implement strict policies to provide proper training to staff members. A new alert issued by The Joint Commission warns that inappropriate language and hostile behavior among healthcare professionals poses a serious threat to patient safety. Article discusses Joint Commission standards and quotes Peter Angood extensively.
  
•  Delaware News Journal 
  August 15, 2008
  "Minner signs measure to make 'primary stroke centers" by Gary Haber
  Gov. Ruth Ann Minner on Thursday signed legislation aimed at encouraging Delaware hospitals to adopt the most advanced methods for treating stroke, a disease that effects about 1,200 Delawareans each year. The bill, which goes into effect Jan. 1, directs the state Department of Health and Social Services to designate as "primary stroke centers" those hospitals whose programs attain a similar designation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
  
• American Medical News 
  August 11, 2008
  "Automation seen to aid informed consent" by Pamela Lewis Dolan
  To improve the informed consent process in a way that leads to patients who are more informed, some physicians are turning to technology. Article states that the addition of requiring organizations to encourage patients to become more involved in their care to National Patient Safety Goals has driven the conversation on this issue.
  
• USA Today 
  August 11, 2008
  "For strokes, closest hospital might not be the best" by Robert Davis
  "When fire department paramedics found 50-year-old Gerald Booker unable to drive, his left side weak and his speech slurred because of an apparent stroke, they told the yard laborer he was going for a ride. Instead of stopping at hospitals closer to his home in the Pleasantville neighborhood of this sprawling city, the paramedics took Booker to Memorial Hermann Hospital, one of more than 660 hospitals across the USA that specialize in treating strokes. Article includes a listing of all Joint Commission certified primary stroke centers."
  
• Boston Globe 
  August 10, 2008
  "Hospitals try to calm doctors' outbursts" by Liz Kowalczyk
  During an operation at a Salem hospital last summer, an orthopedic surgeon, frustrated by a pair of scissors that wouldn't cut, threw them and narrowly missed a nurse. In many hospitals, outbursts from a top surgeon who generates significant revenue or a star researcher who wins huge grants often have been tolerated.
  
• Wall Street Journal 
  August 6, 2008
  "Options expand for avoiding crowded ERs" by Laura Landro
  Patients who need immediate care for injuries and illness, be it a nail-gun puncture or a severe stomach bug, are increasingly turning to walk-in urgent care clinics. Article mentions Joint Commission partnership with Urgent Care Association of America and what this will mean for future guidelines and for patients.
  
• Hospitals & Health Networks 
  August 1, 2008  
  "The Proliferation of Quality Reports" 
  The transparency movement - combined with the power of the Internet - has given patients an arsenal of data on hospital quality. This Storyboard looks at how four prominent sites present the data. Article features a description of Quality Check and includes a snapshot of a screen displaying information. 
  
• Skin & Allergy News 
  August 1, 2008
  "Joint Commission Rules Tackle Infection Control" by Mary Ellen Schneider
  The Joint Commission has issued new requirements for hospitals in an effort to prevent infections from MDROs, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and surgical site infections. Article profiles the new infection control requirements and cites examples of how they will help organizations elevate their efforts.
  
• Orthopaedic Nursing 
  August 1, 2008
  "A Roadmap to the Disease Specific Care Certification Process" by Jennifer L. Smith
  In today's competitive healthcare market, organizations are continually looking for ways to distinguish their program from others. One approach is by obtaining The Joint Commission's Disease Specific Care Certification. Article gives an in-depth profile of the certification process, how organizations can prepare, and what certification means.
  
• NAHQ E-news  
  August, 2008
  "Hospitals, Language, and Culture: Lessons for Quality" 
  Today’s hospital staff cares for an increasingly diverse patient mix. The variety of languages, cultures, and health needs makes providing patient-centered care seem daunting and sometimes impossible. Article authored by Amy Wilson-Stronks profiles the Hospitals, Language and Culture study

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July 2008

• U.S. News & World Report 
  July 22, 2008
  "A Move to Judge Psychiatric Hospitals" by Avery Comarow
  Of all hospital services, psychiatric services may be less likely than most to be thought about in advance. If a family member needed to be hospitalized because of mental illness, would insurance coverage be the only consideration for choosing a facility? Is useful information about inpatient psychiatric care even available?
  
• Wisconsin State Journal 
  July 18, 2008
  "Taking aim at strokes" by David Wahlberg
  Just as the medical system has sped up its response to heart attacks in recent years, doctors are trying to shave off precious minutes when treating strokes. Article describes Joint Commission's stroke certification program and gives examples of organizations that have benefited from certification.
  
• Outpatient Surgery 
  July 15, 1008
  Irene Tskitas "Joint Commission Cracks Down on Bullying" by Irene Tskitas 
  The abusive, manipulative and just plain nasty treatment that many healthcare professionals get from their peers on a daily basis has got to stop, says the Joint Commission in a new Sentinel Event Alert, the first to deal with the hot-button issue of lateral violence in the workplace.
  
• Wichita Eagle 
  July 11, 2008
  "New accreditation for urgent care" by Andi Atwater
  The Urgent Care Association of America has discontinued its accreditation program and teamed up with The Joint Commission to provide oversight of urgent care clinics. Article highlights key components of the partnership.
  
• Chicago Tribune 
  July 10, 2008
  "Bad behavior cure sought by watchdog" by Bruce Japsen
  A nurse should be able to point out a missing sponge to the chief surgeon without fear of reprisal or a tongue lashing, and a patient's page of a doctor should be answered rather than ignored. Such examples of health-care workers behaving badly soon will have serious repercussions from aleading watchdog.
  
• WebMD 
  July 9, 2008
  "Hostile hospital behavior rapped" by Miranda Hitti
  Intimidating and disruptive behaviors from health care workers are "not rare" in hospitals and other health care organizations, and a U.S. hospital accreditation group today put that behavior in permanent time-out. Article profiles suggestions from Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert and included quotes from Mark Chassin and Peter Angood.
  
• Associated Press 
  July 9, 2008
  "Group calls for zero tolerance of doctor bullies" by Carla Johnson
  Bullying doctors can make nurses afraid to question their performance, resulting in medical errors, according to a hospital group that announced new requirements for cracking down on intimidating behavior.
  
• South Florida Sun-Sentinel 
  July 9, 2008
  "S. Fla. hospitals join trend of becoming stroke centers" by Patty Pensa
  "As stroke care advances, hospitals are lining up to create centers to treat these ""brain attacks"" with as much urgency as they treat trauma patients. Hospitals are propelled by a 2004 state law that sends ambulances to stroke centers even if another hospital is closer.
  
• MSNBC.com
  July 8, 2008
  "Hospital bullies take a toll on patient safety" by JoNel Aleccia
  They’re the bullies of the operating room, the browbeaters of bedside manner: doctors, nurses and other clinicians who make a habit of behaving badly. Article profiles recommendations from Joint Commission's Sentinel Event Alert and describes upcoming requirements. 
  
• Orange County Register 
  July 3, 2008
  "Mission Viejo woman's recovery is miraculous" by Erika Ritchie
  Riding in the ambulance, Lisa Foto kept grabbing her head. "It was the worst headache of my life," she remembers. Then things went black. Minutes later Foto, 48, went into surgery at Mission Hospital. An artery had ruptured in her brain. Her life was at risk.
  
• Newsweek 
  July 3, 3008
  "Patient Protection" by Tina Peng
  Patient advocacy groups and regulatory agencies agree that by assuming a more active role in their healthcare, patients can help doctors and other healthcare providers avoid unnecessary errors. Article mentions Joint Commission recommendation that patients discuss surgical procedures with their doctor. Article also mentions National Patient Safety Goal on look alike, sound alike drugs.
  
• Bulletin - AAO/HNS 
  "The Universal Protocol Revisited" by Rahul K. Shah, M.D.
  The Universal Protocol is a well-constructed, well thought out protocol published by The Joint Commission with support from almost all surgical and surgical-related specialties.
  
• Becker's ASC Review 
  July 1, 2008
  "Q&A With Joint Commission's Michael Kulczycki" by Rob Kurtz
  Here's what Michael Kulczycki, the executive director of the Joint Commission's Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program, had to say about some current issues affecting ASCs. Michael Kulczycki provides insights on the top ASC safety challenges, quick tips for overcoming challenges, and Joint Commission perspective on future challenges.
  
• Advance for Administrators of the Laboratory 
  July 1, 2008
  "Apologies Accepted:Disclosing medical errors in the malpractice age isn't easy" by David Gourley
  It's hard to say "I'm sorry." Apologizing is even more difficult in the healthcare setting, where a loved one's life is the subject of the redress. In the U.S., up to 98,000 deaths each year are attributed to medical errors, according to the Institute of Medicine. These deaths outnumber those from motor vehicle accidents, AIDS or breast cancer. Article cites Joint Commission's Sentinel Event Policy as providing organizations with the structure to investigate and report medical errors. 

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June 2008

• Modern Healthcare 
  June 23, 2008
  "Joint Commission's Leap" by Jean Dergurahian 
  "New requirements under the Joint Commission’s 2009 National Patient Safety Goals unveiled last week will help ensure hospitals are holding themselves accountable for infection control, hospital officials said. Article gives examples of organizations that are implementing Joint Commission requirements, specifically related to infection control, and includes comments from Peter Angood." 
   
• Health 
  June 19, 2008
  "Medical mistakes: what can go wrong" by Lorie Parch
  Procedures done on the wrong body part and to the wrong person are two of the National Quality Forum’s 28 “never events,” mistakes—including surgical materials left in a patient; artificial insemination with the wrong sperm or egg; and harm from malfunctioning equipment, as happened to Fox—that shouldn’t occur under any circumstances.
  
• Chicago Tribune 
  June 10, 2008
  "Hospitals want involved patients" by Judith Graham
  Four years ago, when Edward Lawton was admitted to a New York hospital for surgery,he came prepared. He brought his own case of sterile gloves and asked nurses to use them after washing their hands with soap and water. Article focus on hospital efforts to encourage patients to speak up about their care, and describes Joint Commission's Speak Up campaign. Includes quote from Cathy Barry-Ipema.
  
• Modern Physician  
  June 9, 2008
  "Joint Commission standard targets bad doc behavior" by Barbara Kirchheimer
  "While physicians and nurses are expected to interact as professionals, occasionally there is someone who repeatedly yells and berates colleagues when something goes wrong, or intimidates co-workers physically.
  
• Consultant Pharmacist  
  June 1, 2008
  "Hand hygiene: more than just hands" 
  Each year as many as 90,000 patients die from facility-acquired infections. Data indicate up to 70% of acquired infections are antibiotic resistant. Hands are the most common routes for transmission of infections. Article describes Joint Commission's Speak Up campaign as part of quality improvement efforts, and one that enlists the assistance of patients.
  
• Journal of Family Practice 
  June 1, 2008
  "The Joint Commission: A new look at what it can do" by Mark Chassin 
  Improved patient safety and satisfaction, marketing strength, reduced liability premiums - to name just a few. Bylined article by Mark Chassin discusses his approach to quality improvement, benefits of accreditation, and the role of Joint Commission moving forward.
  
• AARC Times 
  June 1, 2008
  "The Joint Commission's accreditation program for sleep centers" by Sam Giordano
  Many members have expressed interest in gaining accreditation for their sleep disorder testing/treatment centers regardless of whether they are freestanding or part of a hospital. This Q & A with Michael Kulczycki explains The Joint Commission's program and its benefits.
  
• Nursing Management 
  June 1, 2008
  "MRSA: Time to prevent as well as control" by Elizabeth Dunaway
  Staphylococcus aureus has been a hospital pathogen worldwide for decades and an antibiotoic-resistant pathogen since antibiotics were first introduced. Article cites Joint Commission as a national leader in accepting the challenge to eradicate MRSA by providing guidelines and resources for the prevention and control of MRSA in health care settings. Article also highlights 2009 NPSGs related to infection control.
  
• Healthcare Informatics 
  June 1, 2008
  "Lean and mean" by Brian Albright
  In addition to strengthening the bottom line, process improvement methodologies are improving patient care. Article highlights success stories of process improvement implementation improving care, and notes that Joint Commission is embracing  methods such as Lean, Six Sigma and TQM.
  
• Albany Times-Union 
  June 1, 2008
  "Vigilant parents can help catch drug errors" by Lynda Shrager
  "The medication error in which actor Dennis Quaid's newborn twins were mistakenly given 1,000 times the prescribed dose of the bloodthinning drug Heparin made headlines several months ago. Article describes in detail the recommendations in The Joint Commission's Sentinel Event Alert."

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May 2008

• Advance for Nurses
  May 26, 2008 
  "Getting specific" by Jean Range, MJ Hampel, Caroline Isbey
  One hundred million Americans are living with at least one chronic disease; many have two or more. Bylined article discussed how to achieve Disease Specific Care Certification, benefits of the process, and how to maintain continuous improvement.
  
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch 
  May 25, 2008
  "New imaging products crucial to Covidien unit outlook" by Rachel Melcer 
  Covidien Imaging Solutions, based in Hazelwood, is developing two products to show what it can do with an expanding research budget and an eye on innovation. The business, a unit of Bermuda-based health-care products giant Covidien Ltd., said both products will bring new value to an old line of contrast agents — dyes that are injected into patients to show tissue, veins or organs on X-rays, CAT scans and other images.
  
• Globe and Mail (Canada) 
  May 20, 2008
  "Hospitals face hand-washing crackdown" Lisa Priest
  "Amid growing concern over spread of infection, watchdog demands hygiene audits and compliance plans from acute-care facilities. Beginning next January, Accreditation Canada will compel virtually all acute-care hospitals - in addition to those nursing homes and other facilities seeking stamps of approval - to not only do hand-hygiene audits but to have a plan to maintain or improve hand-washing compliance.
  
• American Medical News
  May 19, 2008
  "Hospitalized kids found at risk for drug errors" by Kevin O'Reilly
  A new study finding a much higher rate of pediatric hospital adverse drug events than previously thought sparked the Joint Commission last month to issue an alert advising physicians and hospitals how to reduce such mistakes. Article profiles the Sentinel Event Alert and Joint Commission's recommendations.
  
• Drug Topics 
  May 12, 2008
  "R.Ph.s say more needs to be done to prevent pediatric drug errors" by Anthony Vecchione
  Health system pharmacists responded favorably to a recent Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert that addressed the problem of pediatric medication errors. Article takes an in-depth look at The Joint Commission's recommendations in the alert and includes quote from Peter Angood.
  
• Ladies' Home Journal 
  May 1, 2008
  "America's emergency rooms in crisis" by Linda Marsa
  "The country's ERs struggle to handle even a normal busy night -- imagine what would happen in the wake of another natural disaster. Yet experts have ingenious and lifesaving plans for an ER of the future. Do we have the will to
  build it now? Article profiles numerous problems in ERs. In a section on what consumers can do to address the problem and help their communities, the article suggests that consumers ask if hospitals have a passing grade from The Joint Commission." 
  
• PT Magazine 
  May 1, 2008
  "Reducing patient falls in inpatient settings" by Anita Bemis-Dougherty
  Despite numerous prevention efforts, inpatient falls remain a leading adverse event in hospitals and other inpatient settings, resulting in loss of function, death, and higher health care costs.
  
• NAHQ E-news  
  May 1, 2008
  "Mark Chassin on the Future of Healthcare"
  "Two movements have emerged during the last decade in healthcare quality—patient safety and public reporting—that have led to a substantial increase in the quality improvement efforts of healthcare organizations.
  
• Times-Courier (Georgia) 
  May 1, 2008
  "Health care concerns" by Katie Morales
  Although health care concerns are addressed daily in the American media, it appears the average consumer does not address these concerns until they are thrust into the health care system during a time of crisis. The article contains Joint Commission tips and recommendations for health care consumers.

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April 2008

• Modern Healthcare's Daily Dose 
  April 22, 2008
  "Hospitals urged to assess cultural, language needs" by Jean Dergurahian
  Hospitals should assess the diverse cultural and language needs of their patients and improve practices on how to meet those needs, according to a new Joint Commission research paper.
  
• Health & Medicine Week  
  April 21, 2008
  "Understanding Your Caregivers promotes health literacy" 
  Understanding the often complex medical information  your doctor or other caregivers give to you can be difficult, and the consequences of misunderstanding this information can be life threatening. Article details the suggestions from The Joint Commission's Speak Up campaign. 
  
• CBS News (from Web MD) 
  April 15, 2008
  "Pediatric Medication Mix-ups Targeted" by Miranda Hitti
  "Pediatric medication errors are once again in the headlines -- and this time, the spotlight is on solutions. The Joint Commission, a hospital accreditation group, issued new guidelines today for curbing pediatric medication errors in hospitals. The guidelines come days after the journal Pediatrics published a study showing that about 7.3% of kids at 12 U.S. children's hospitals experienced an ""adverse drug event"" of some sort.  
   
• Orlando Sentinel 
  April 15, 2008
  "Web sites can make hospital-shopping easier" by Harry Wessel
  "It's not unusual for consumers to spend weeks of research before choosing a car, an appliance or a vacation package. But a hospital? ""The time to choose a hospital is not when you're having chest pain at the mall,"" said Jerod Loeb, executive vice president for quality measurement and research for The Joint Commission, the nation's oldest and largest health-care accrediting body.
  
• Associated Press 
  April 11, 2008
  "Warning on medication mix-ups for kids" by Lindsey Tanner 
  "A hospital group says more needs to be done to prevent medication
  errors in children. A safety alert issued Friday by the group comes days after the release of a study finding that drug mix-ups and overdoses harm roughly one out of 15 hospitalized children, a number far higher than earlier estimates. Article describes Joint Commission's recommendations from this Sentinel Event Alert." 
  
• CNN.com 
  April 10, 2008
  "How to find the best ER for your child" by Elizabeth Cohen
  When Andrea Buie-Branam brought her asthmatic baby to the nearest emergency room, she thought she was doing the right thing. But once she got there, she began to suspect she wasn't in the right place. Article offers top tips for what parents should consider when taking a child to the ER. Article offers Joint Commission's Quality Check as a resource for finding the right ER, and describes how to search. 
  
• Hospitals & Health Networks 
  April 9, 2008
  "Resolving to make patient safety a priority" by Alan Joch
  Last summer, the Joint Commission, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., announced its sixth annual National Patient Safety Goals and related requirements, which impact nearly 15,000 accredited health care organizations. Article is an interview with Peter Angood who discusses the understanding and implementation of NPSGs.
  
• Modern Healthcare
  April 8, 2008
  "Chassin says hospital IT of 'limited help' on its own" by Matt DoBias
  Despite some initial forays into health information technology, Joint Commission President Mark Chassin said on Monday that unless healthcare organizations first tackle systemic problems, the use of automated systems could lead to more errors made more quickly. Mark Chassin is quoted extensively on the issue.
  
• MSNBC.com
  April 8, 2008
  "Before Code Blue: Who's minding the patient?" by JoNel Aleccia
  "High-profile medical errors such as operating on the wrong body part or receiving a mistaken dose of drugs should take a back seat to a far more common and insidious mistake, a new report reveals. Article mentions that Joint Commission requires hospitals to have a system to detect patients in crisis and to respond immediately."
  
• Modern Healthcare
  April 7, 2008
  "Looking at health system disaster preparedness"
  The U.S. health system is not sufficiently prepared to responond to a major disaster, according to a Pricewaterhouse Coopers report.  This roundtable of experts features Bob Wise. The Q &A format article extensively quotes Wise's insights on the problems health care faces in disaster preparedness.
  
• Modern Physician/Modern Healthcare
  April 7, 2008
  "Most powerful doc execs" by Jay Greene
  Readers of Modern Physician in 2008 voted Thomas Mongan No. 1 for the magazine’s fourth annual ranking of the 50 Most Powerful Physician
  Executives. Mark Chassin, who finished number three in the ranking, is profiled and quoted in the article.
  
• Washington Post
  April 1, 2008
  "New rules on stroke" by Alicia Ault
  In the event of a stroke, time is brain -- meaning the more quickly you recognize the problem and get proper medical treatment, the more likely you are to survive and minimize neurological damage. Increasingly, experts are concluding that means getting to the right hospital, and fast.
  
• AARP The Magazine
  April 1, 2008
  "Save Your Own Life" by Melissa Gotthardt
  When a stroke strikes, seconds count. Swift treatment is crucial to surviving a stroke and limiting its disabling effects. And there's a lot you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones. While not all hospitals are prepared to take care of acute strokes, those that meet the standards for Joint Commission certification are.

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March 2008

• Temple (TX) Daily Telegram
  March 11, 2008
  "Systems in Place to Keep Patients Safe" by Janice Gibbs
  Keeping track of all the medications a hospital patient might receive in a given day can be daunting. The Joint Commission, she said, has had medication management standards in place for years and King’s Daughters adheres to those practices. Scott & White also stays compliant with the commission’s annual national patient safety guidelines, said Tricia Meyer, director of Scott & White Hospital pharmacy.
  
  
• Medical Imaging News
  March 11, 2008
  "Joint Commission Issues MRI Safety Alert"
  The Joint Commission, alarmed at hundreds of MRI-related accidents over the last decade, recently issued a Sentinel Event Alert and a call for increased safety measures in the MRI suite. “While the capabilities of the MRI scanner are well-recognized, its inherent dangers may not be as well known,” The Joint Commission said, citing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study.
  
  
• Modern Healthcare (subscription)
  March 10, 2008
  "Rates of Change Slowing: AHRQ" by Jean DerGurahian
  A new Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality report indicating that the rates of quality and safety improvement are slowing down shows how myriad providers of quality data are ill-prepared to measure consistently and fairly the progress hospitals are making, industry experts argue. Quality groups such as the Joint Commission are pushing for the creation of a standard that might make measuring such errors easier.
  
  
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  March 5, 2008
  "Researching Your Health Provider Can be an Odyssey" by Mary Jo Feldstein
  Madonna Laws knows it's not always easy to be a good patient. Laws, who lives in Crestwood, needed bladder surgery earlier this year. Laws preferred not to have her surgery at one local hospital, which she declined to name. She'd had some bad experiences there with her elderly mother. To find quality information on local doctors and hospitals, here are a couple
  of places to start.
  
  
• Naperville Sun 
  March 4, 2008
  "Germ Warfare" by Katie Foutz
  "MRSA sent several students home from Naperville schools last year, but most of the cases nationwide occur in health care settings. Germs lurk on people's hands, doctors' stethoscopes, nurses' computer keyboards - making people sick where they are supposed to get well. to earn accreditation from the Joint Commission, hospitals must follow hand-washing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization.
  
  
• Unique Health Remedies
  March 3, 2008
  "'YOU: The Smart Patient' Should be on the Desk of Every Ill Person" by Lisa Copen
  When I bought the book “YOU: The Smart Patient: An Insider’s Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment,” by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz a few years ago I had no idea Mehmet Oz or “Doctor Oz” would soon be the hot new guest on Oprah, giving cheery advice on every personal health topic (from the common sense stuff to the unspeakable) on national television. This book is written in conjunction with The Joint Commission. 
  
   
• Outpatient Surgery Magazine (subscription)
  March 2008
  "Is Accreditation Really Worth It?" by Robert Kurtz
  The accreditation process, still largely voluntary, will likely cost you a few thousand dollars each year. The standards are extensive, and it'll take many hours to gather the necessary documentation, develop the proper policies and procedures, track the correct data and prepare for the on-site survey. Here are seven reasons why the accreditation process is a worthwhile investment.

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February 2008

• Occupational Health & Safety
  2/25/08
  "Analysis Confirms Hospitals Profit from Patient Safety"
  The case for hospitals to invest in patient safety initiatives and to improve their safety cultures is made even stronger than it already was by an analysis published today in the winter issue of California Association of Healthcare Quality Journal. The their report notes that several organizations (including OSHA, CMS, the Joint Commission, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) are accelerating the patient safety movement in the United States.
  
  
• Medical News Today
  2/16/08 
  Joint Commission Alert Shines Light on Preventing MRI Accidents, Injuries"
  The Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Event Alert that urges hospitals and ambulatory care centers to pay special attention to preventing accidents and injuries that can occur during MRI scans. "MRI technology represents an important advance in diagnostic medicine, but special care must be taken to protect patients," says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission.
  
  
• Hospitals & Health Networks
  2/15/08
  "Quality, Safety Top New Joint Commission Chief's Agenda" by Matthew Weinstock
  Dr.Chassin has some grand visions, not the least of which is pushing and prodding hospitals on patient safety and quality improvement. He wants to improve the Joint Commission’s standing with the public and policy-makers.
  
• Kansas City Star
  2/13/08
  "Accrediting Bodies Build Patient Trust" by Robert Cole
  There are nearly 5,000 surgery centers operating in the United States, typically owned by large health-care organizations and joint agreements between hospitals and physician groups. Centers can seek voluntary accreditation from The Joint Commission and from programs within specific health disciplines, including plastic surgery.
  
  
• Outpatient Surgery Magazine (subscription)
  2/1/08
  "Medical Malpractice: How to Lower Your Liability Premiums" by Catherine Griswold
  With skyrocketing malpractice premiums for physicians and healthcare facilities, it's more important than ever to develop and implement aggressive plans to reduce the number of surgical errors, which in turn reduces the liability of the physicians and the facilities where they operate. Showing an insurance carrier that you have detailed processes in place to reduce errors can lower your liability premiums and slow the rise in premiums in years to come.
  
  
• Today's Surgicenter
  2/1/08
  "Gaining, Maintaining Accreditation is Tough: Is it Worth it to Your ASC?" by Michelle Beaver
  Accreditation is a personal matter. Leaders of every ambulatory surgery center (ASC) have their reasons for or against it, and one accrediting body may work better for one facility than for the next. Michael Kulczycki, MBA, executive director of The Joint Commission's Ambulatory Care Accreditation program recommends several questions for ASC leaders to ask themselves.
  
  
• Journal for Healthcare Quality
  2/1/08
  "Interview with a Quality Leader: Mark Chassin, New President of the Joint Commission" by Linda Harrington, Susan V. White
  On January 1, 2008, Mark R. Chassin, MD, MPP, MPH, assumed the presidency of The Joint Commission. He has an extensive background in quality improvement.

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January 2008

• Bonner County Daily Bee (Idaho)
  1/31/08 
  "Speak Up and Play an Active Role in Your Health Care" by Lynda Metz
  Last fall, Bonner General Hospital implemented the "Speak Up" program, an initiative sponsored by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The "Speak Up" program is designed to improve patient safety and prevent medical errors by urging patients to get involved in their health care. While this is a program designed for hospitals, it provides simple advice that applies to any interaction you may have with the health care system.
  
  
• Los Angeles Times
  1/28/08 
  "Patient, Protect Thyself" by Jan Greene
  "Mistakes happen even at top-tier hospitals. Consumers can do their part to prevent them. One of the biggest things we can do in healthcare is to help patients understand that they need to be better consumers," says Peter Angood a trauma surgeon and vice president and chief patient safety officer for The Joint Commission.
  
  
• MSNBC.com
  Jan-08
  "Hey Doc, Wash Your Hands" by JoNel Aleccia
  In an era of rising rates of drug-resistant infections and overburdened medical staffs, hygiene experts say the best-protected patients are those willing to take safety into their own hands — by asking health workers to wash theirs.
  
   
• Wall Street Journal
  1/9/08
  "Learning to Ask Tough Questions of Your Surgeon" by Laura Landro
  As complications and errors dog some surgical procedures, experts say it is increasingly crucial for patients to vet their surgeons and take an active role in preventing mistakes.To help patients be more pro-active, health-care groups, hospitals and medical specialty societies are offering new resources, including Web sites, books and checklists of questions to ask.  quality groups such as the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals and other health-care providers, have in recent years pushed the adoption of new safety measures, such as the use of pre-surgery antibiotics to prevent infections, and post-surgical monitoring to prevent strokes or blood clots.
  
  
• West County Times
  1/7/08
  "Medication Errors are Common, but Hospitals Tackling Problem" by Sandy Kleffman
  For years the issue received little attention, but now many hospitals are tackling the problem head-on, and some are showing notable results. Since The Joint Commission announced that drug errors would be part of its 2007 patient safety goals, awareness has heightened and more aggressive programs have been implemented at hospitals throughout the nation.
  
  
• Chicago Tribune
  1/2/08
  "Technology Cuts Risk of Surgical Sponges" by Bruce Japsen
  The problem of left-behind sponges is hardly new. A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that sponges and other foreign objects were left behind after abdominal surgeries at a rate of 1 for every 1,000 to 1,500 such operations. Several medical-products companies say sponges are the most common foreign objects left behind in surgeries. Although The Joint Commission says purchasing a sponge-detection system is not mandatory, it strongly encourages hospitals to look at all processes involved in the potential for foreign objects to be left in a patient.
  
  
• Managed Healthcare Executive
  1/1/08
  "Networking Sites Become the New Doctors' Lounge" by Ken Krinzer
  Most physicians practice in groups of five or fewer, and they spend less time in the hospital than in years past. Even informal, coincidental interaction in hospital lounges is less frequent. The need for peer-to-peer interaction remains important, however, and technology is revolutionizing the way physicians can interact. The idea of collaboration and consultation is strong throughout the healthcare industry. It is also part of the mission of The Joint Commission, an independent organization that accredits and certifies more than 15,000 healthcare entities and programs in the United States.

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