In 2002, LTCQ, Inc., an independent information services company completed a study that compared Joint Commission-accredited nursing facilities with non-accredited facilities. The attached PDF file includes the results of the study, which found that Joint Commission-accredited nursing facilities have:
- significantly fewer high-level health-related deficiencies
- significantly fewer Life Safety Code deficiencies
- significantly fewer medication errors
- significantly fewer complaints and fewer substantiated allegations
Resources
In 2004, LTCQ inc. refreshed this study. Empirical data from this new study indicated that accreditation is associated with four major advantages:
- better occupancy and payer mix,
- fewer health deficiencies,
- fewer (expensive) jeopardy deficiencies,
- lower predicted litigation risks
Implications:
- Accreditation is a risk management tool.
- Accreditation can be an aid to marketing facilities' services.
For more information about LTCQ visit http://www.ltcq.com, or contact Gina Zimmerman at 630-792-5293 or at gzimmerman@jointcommission.org.