The Joint Commission’s Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) Certification Program provides an independent, comprehensive evaluation of a staffing firm’s ability to provide qualified and competent staffing services.
Health care staffing firms are eligible for Joint Commission certification if they:
- Place clinical staff in other organizations that oversee or provide direct patient care.
- Place clinical staff under the direct supervision of another organization’s personnel.
- Have at least a four month track record of being in business and meeting the standards.
- Have placed at least 10 clinical staff during that four month time period.
Certification process
HCSS firms undergo an announced initial review. Re-certification reviews are unannounced and are conducted on-site review every other year. The review focuses on a firm’s ability to provide competent staffing services and evaluates performance, continuing education and training, placement criteria, and other areas. The standards, contained in the Health Care Staffing Services Certification Manual, are divided into four sections:
- Leadership
- Human resources management
- Performance measurement and improvement
- Information management
The Joint Commission has postponed the periodic performance review (PPR) requirement scheduled for implementation effective July 1, 2007. The Joint Commission is reviewing the PPR for further consideration, and additional information will be forthcoming.
Performance measurement
The Joint Commission is currently working on identifying a set of standardized performance measures for the HCSS program. Effective January 1, 2008, The Joint Commission will implement a standardized measure set that all staffing firms will be expected to comply with. Until then, the performance measurement requirements will be:
- When applying for certification, the health care staffing organization is required to demonstrate that it is collecting data on one or more performance improvement activities of their choice.
- During the on-site review, the organization should be prepared to discuss the PI activity that it has been studying.
A Certificate of Distinction will be awarded to health care staffing firms meeting the requirements for certification.
For more information
See the Health Care Staffing Services Certification section of The Joint Commission’s website or contact Michele Sacco, executive director, Health Care Staffing Services Certification Program, at msacco@jointcommission.org.
8/07