Welcome to a new year and our new look. After more than 19 years as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, we have shortened our name to The Joint Commission. This reflects not only common usage, but common sense. The name change signifies that we are moving beyond a traditional approach into a wider range of certification and accreditation products.
To go along with our new name, the logo has been updated and refreshed. The graphic contains four colored triangles representing the four elements of the cycle for performance improvement (plan, do, study, act). The four triangles form an arrow pointing upward to reflect The Joint Commission’s commitment to continuous improvement.
Other changes in 2007 for the Disease-Specific Care Program include revisions to the performance measurement requirements and exemptions from the unannounced recertification review. Details about these changes are included in this issue.
Also, as noted in the article on this page, the e-mail addresses at The Joint Commission have changed. Mine is now jrange@jointcommission.org. Please use it to let me know what you think about our new look.
Jean Range, MS, RN, CPHQ
-Top-
In January, The Joint Commission unveiled its new branding initiative with an abbreviated name and a newly redesigned logo. Specific changes include:
- The name has been shortened from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare organizations to The Joint Commission.
- New logos for The Joint Commission, Joint Commission Resources, Joint Commission International, and the International Center for Patient Safety.
- New Gold Seal of Approval™ and updated Publicity Kit.
- Website redesign.
- The “Jayco” extranet has been renamed “The Joint Commission Connect.” It is being redesigned and will launch in the second quarter of 2007
- DSC Update redesign.
- E-mail extensions have changed to "@jointcommission.org.”
“These changes acknowledge our broadening scope of services and products,” says Jean Range, executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification Program. “They will also guide our ongoing commitment to achieving excellence in our daily work.”
Read more about the branding initiative.
-Top-
Beginning in 2007, disease-specific care programs (excluding ventricular assist device, and lung volume reduction surgery reviews) will receive a five-day notice before their recertification review. “DSC programs are typically small and it’s crucial to have key staff present for the review,” says Jean Range, executive director. “The five-day notice gives programs enough time to assemble team members to fully participate in the recertification process.”
-Top-
New performance measurement requirements for Disease-Specific Care Programs will be effective later this year. The following new requirements are effective July 1, 2007:
- Organizations undergoing initial DSC on-site certification reviews on or after July 1, 2007, are required to have gathered performance measure data for a minimum of four months before the initial on-site certification review.
- Certified organizations must collect and report monthly data points.
“Our customers will receive a better overall review because of these changes,” explains Jean Range, executive director. “For newly certified programs, four months of data collection helps us conduct a more rigorous assessment of performance improvement plans and processes. For programs that are already certified, monthly data collection will maximize the value of the intra-cycle and recertification review processes.”
In addition, certified primary stroke centers (which have a standardized measure set) must report data to the Joint Commission quarterly. However, the implementation date for this requirement has not been set.
For the full text of the requirements, see the February 2007 issue of The Joint Commission Perspectives.
-Top-
Make sure your staff keeps current with the latest Joint Commission news by adding their contact information to the Joint Commission extranet, now known as The Joint Commission Connect. In January, CEOs of all certified organizations were sent a letter requesting they update their organization’s contact list. If this doesn’t occur, staff members will not be able to access the organization’s certification extranet site. Follow these easy steps to access the certification extranet and update the contact list:
- Go to www.jointcommission.org.
- Click on The Joint Commission Connect link. Enter your login and password.
- Select the certification extranet link.
- In the “Update Organization Contacts” section, add appropriate staff contact information including e-mail addresses.
- Click on the “Save” button at the bottom of the “Organization Contacts” screen, and then click on the “Submit” button.
- A new, individual login and password will be e-mailed to each new contact.
If you have questions, contact your account representative at (630) 792-3007.
-Top-
By mid-2007, each Joint Commission certified Disease-Specific Care program will have its own Quality Report posted on The Joint Commission Quality Check website at www.qualitycheck.org. Quality Reports provide health care professionals and the public with useful information about Joint Commission-certified or accredited organizations.
-Top-
Members of the DSC staff attend meetings and conferences throughout the year. In 2007 we’ll be at:
- April 11-13, National Kidney Foundation, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
- April 22-25, American Nephrology Nurses Association, Dallas, Texas
- April 22-25, American Case Management Association, Miami, Fla.
- June 19-23, Case Management Society of America, Denver, Colo.
- June 22-26, American Diabetes Association, Chicago, Ill.
- August 2-4, American Association of Diabetes Educators, St. Louis, Mo.
- Sept. 9-12, National Association for Healthcare Quality, Boston, Mass.
- Sept. 16-19, Disease Management Association of America, Las Vegas, Nev.
-Top-
- Disease-Specific Care Certification (630) 792-5291
- Standards Interpretation Group (630) 792-5900
- DSC Account Representative (630) 792-3007
- Customer Service (630) 792-5800
- Pricing Unit (630) 792-5115
-Top-
For information or to order products from Joint Commission Resources, Inc., go to www.jcrinc.com/Infomart.htm or call (877) 223-6866.
Education
2007 Disease-Specific Care Certification Workshop
Covers the disease-specific care certification process, standards, clinical practice guidelines, and performance measurement expectations.
- June 19, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.
- Sept. 19, location TBA
Publications
Disease-Specific Care Certification Manual
Order code: DSCC02SJ, $75
Disease-Specific Care Certification Toolkit
Helps DSC programs prepare for Joint Commission certification, comply with standards, collect and analyze data, and effectively use outcomes measures to improve care.
Order code: DSCD03SJ, $60
Acting Locally: Working in Clinical Microsystems CD-ROM
This publication discusses microsystem-based improvement efforts, including leadership, culture, patient focus, staff focus, patient safety, performance improvement and information technology.
Order code: WCM06SJ, $60
What You Should Know About Research Studies
This Speak Up™ patient safety brochure is designed to orient participants to the research process and help them become more active, involved and informed about studies in which they enroll. Download copies free or order printed copies through JCR.
Order code: PHRPWYS-05SJ, $25 for pack of 100
-Top-