The rising nursing shortage in the United States has fueled an increase of international nurse recruitment. Research conducted by AcademyHealth shows abuses and concerns on both sides. With help from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, AcademyHealth and the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University formed a task force to build consensus on standards for fair international recruitment. I was invited to participate.
I am proud of the work we have accomplished and urge you to review the Voluntary Code of Ethical Conduct for the Recruitment of Foreign-Educated Nurses to the United States, at www.fairinternationalrecruitment.org/code.htm. The code attempts to ensure that recruiting foreign-educated nurses to the United States is done responsibly and transparently. Although the code is voluntary, it is a critical step toward achieving best practices for maximizing benefit and reducing potential harm.
According to AcademyHealth’s research, in 2007 there were almost 300 U.S.-based firms specializing in foreign-educated nurse recruitment—nearly a 10-fold increase in recruitment firms in the past 10 years. The nursing shortage is projected to reach 800,000 by 2020. The dramatic increase in these numbers illustrates the importance of establishing these standards.
Contact me at (630) 792-5285 or msacco@jointcommission.org.
Michele M. Sacco, M.S.
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The Certification Measure Information Process tool is a new application that allows certified health care staffing firms to electronically submit monthly performance measurement data and performance improvement information. Here are some frequently asked questions about using the tool.
Q: How do I obtain access to CMIP?
A. Your staffing firm’s CEO or designated Joint Commission contact can provide access by updating the organization contact information within the HCSS tab of The Joint Commission extranet site.
Q: Where can I find instructions on how to use the CMIP?
A: Once you access the CMIP, there is a link on the left hand navigation bar to the instructions. It’s a good idea to print the directions so you can follow along as you complete the steps.
Q: When is the due date?
A: After your account representative receives your automated Application for Certification and confirms your firm’s eligibility and other requirements, he or she will advise you when Part II of the application must be submitted via CMIP. Your firm will also receive an automated official e-mail. The Part II CMIP documents include the Performance Improvement Plan and data to be submitted within 30 days of the notification. In addition, certified staffing firms are required to submit monthly data on a quarterly basis for each of the three standardized measures to The Joint Commission within 45 days of the close of each calendar quarter. Staffing firms will receive automatic e-mail reminders.
Q: How do I know if I have correctly submitted the necessary documents?
A: Complete all the steps listed in the instructions. Once you click “Send to The Joint Commission,” the system will display the following message: “Your documents have been submitted to The Joint Commission. The data submission tool is accessible at all times, all other documents are locked.”
Q: How do I send our quarterly submission of data to The Joint Commission?
A: There is no formal submission of data to The Joint Commission. The staffing firm simply enters and saves the data within the data collection portion of the tool for each of the standardized measures. Account representatives monitor CMIP for the timely entry of quarterly data. If a firm is delinquent, it will be contacted via phone and correspondence posted to The Joint Commission extranet. If a firm fails to enter the monthly data points for the quarter after being given another opportunity to do so, its certification decision will be changed.
Q: Can I print information from CMIP?
A: Yes, Print Instructions are on the first screen displayed after you click on the Certification Measure Information Process screen.
Q: What if I have other questions about CMIP?
A: Read the Health Care Staffing Services Certification Program Performance Measurement Implementation Guide - 2nd Edition . Or, call your account representative. Direct extensions are listed on the extranet, or call (630) 792-3007.
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“As an organization dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of service to our patients, we believe it is critical to rely upon professionals who practice the same standards. Collaborating with staffing firms that hold Joint Commission certification ensures that we are being consistent with our efforts to provide excellence and follow the standards set forth by The Joint Commission, which are both top priorities for the North Shore-LIJ Health System.”
- Joseph Cabral, vice president, chief human resources officer, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Great Neck, NY |
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A simplified and streamlined scoring process will go into effect January 1, 2009, for all certified health care staffing firms. The new process:
- Is based on the “criticality” of review findings, meaning that certification decisions and the timing of follow-up requirements are judged in relation to the immediacy of the threat to health care quality and patient safety.
- Reflects an organization’s performance with respect to compliance with Joint Commission standards and elements of performance.
For more information on the scoring changes, see the August 2008 issue of The Joint Commission Perspectives.
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Q: I’m confused about the difference between competency assessments and performance evaluations.
A: “Although competency assessments and performance evaluations are two different requirements, they are interrelated,” says Merlin Wessels, associate director, Department of Standards Interpretation. “Competency assessments look at whether clinical staff members have the skills to perform their jobs; performance evaluations look at how well clinical staff members are doing their job. It might make sense for your firm to complete these requirements at the same time.
“As stated in the rationale for Standard HR.4, staffing firms can review competency through many methods, such as information from current and previous employers, peer feedback, certification and licensure, tests, and observation of skills. The bottom line is the assessment must be thorough and focus on the competencies needed for the clinical staff member’s assignment.
“Performance evaluations should be based on specific job descriptions. Your firm might consider developing a form that includes the job description on one side, and an evaluation of each aspect of the job description on the other side. The performance evaluation should include information about the quality of services being provided by the clinical staff member to the firm’s clients, and also how the staff member functions as a member of the staffing firm.”
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Be on the lookout for The 2008 Health Care Staffing Services Certification Manual Update and The 2009 Health Care Staffing Services Certification Manual which will be available in October. The 2008 update will include:
- Improved scoring categories and process (see related scoring article)
- Revised certification decision rules
- Revisions to Certification Participation Requirements
Updated, prepunched pages will easily slip into the three-ring binder of the 2008 manual, replacing pages that have changed. If your staffing firm has a copy of the 2008 manual, a free copy of the update will be mailed to the CEO or president of your firm.
Along with the updated standards and scoring information, the 2009 manual will include a glossary of terms, three appendixes discussing root cause analysis, credentialing and documentation requirements for certification, plus an appendix for the National Patient Safety Goals. If your staffing firm is undergoing certification or recertification in 2009, you will receive a complimentary copy of the 2009 manual.
For more information on either product, visit the JCR website, http://www.jcrinc.com/, and click on JCR Web Store in the left navigation bar.
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Joint Commission-certified staffing firms should note that although there are no specific National Patient Safety Goals for the Health Care Staffing Certification Program, there is a requirement that touches on the Goals. In the Human Resources Management Chapter, Standard HR.3, EP 3 states, “The firm orients clinical staff to the following: Safety, including applicable National Patient Safety Goals.” Information on the National Patient Safety Goals is available on The Joint Commission website.
The National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations was founded to promote ethical business practices in the travel healthcare industry. Beginning December 31, all NATHO member firms must be Joint Commission-certified. For more information, visit http://www.natho.org/.
The Joint Commission’s Health Care Staffing Services Certification program is hosting complimentary breakfast briefings for staffing firms that are not yet certified. The briefings continue through the end of the year throughout the country. Visit www.jointcommission.org/hcsbriefings.htm for a schedule.
The Joint Commission will exhibit at Staffing World conference in San Diego, Calif., Oct. 22-26, booth 1315.
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Michele Sacco, executive director
(630) 792-5285 or msacco@jointcommission.org
M.J. Hampel, senior associate director
(630) 792-5720 or mhampel@jointcommission.org
Stacy Veitengruber, business development specialist
(630) 792-5779 or sveitengruber@jointcommission.org
Standards Interpretation
(630) 792-5900
Pricing
(630) 792-5115
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