Updated February 25, 2009
The Joint Commission’s newest certification program, Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS), is a program designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation that demonstrates a staffing firm’s commitment to a higher standard of services. Interest in this certification program has been very favorable and has resulted in the frequently asked questions noted below:
What types of organizations are eligible to be certified?
Health care staffing services are eligible for Joint Commission certification if they:
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Place temporary clinical staff in other organizations that direct or provide direct patient care. (1)
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Place temporary clinical staff under the direct supervision of another organization's personnel.
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Collect and present four months of data for each of the three standardized performance measures.
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Place at least 10 individual clinical employees on assignments by the time of onsite review.
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This includes disciplines such as physicians, RNs, LPN/LVNs, nursing assistants, pharmacy personnel, radiology technicians, surgical assistants, respiratory therapists, laboratory staff, etc. These settings include health care organizations, schools, occupational and community settings, etc.
What types of organizations are not eligible for certification?
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Permanent placement firms that do not provide temporary staffing services
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Internal organization registry or “pool” programs
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Contracted services for management of functions within existing organizations such as emergency department management, pharmacy management, and housekeeping management services
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Non-clinical staff (e.g. housekeeping, medical records or coders, home companions)
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Individual employees
Are firms that place only independent contractors eligible for certification?
Yes, they are eligible. Under the Human Resources standards, it is stated that the HCSS firm evaluates the performance of each staff member. Staff are defined as “individuals such as employees or independent contractors who provide services provided by the HCSS firm.”
Whether a firm places only independent contractors, or a few independent contractors, both the firm and the Human Resources files for the independent contractors are eligible for review, and as part of the review process, may be selected.
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What are the benefits of health care staffing services certification for a staffing firm?
Health Care Staffing Services Certification:
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Establishes criteria for providing appropriate and competent staffing services
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Provides a management framework for quality, safety and improving performance
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Provides external validation of sound business practices
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Increases credibility
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Improves risk management and risk reduction
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Enhances contracting opportunities
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Provides a competitive edge in the marketplace
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Can be a tool to attract and retain quality personnel
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Can fulfill regulatory requirements in select states
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Provides potential recognition by liability insurers
What are the benefits for health care organizations that utilize Joint Commission certified staffing firms?
The benefits to health care organizations that utilize Joint Commission certified staffing firms include:
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A greater level of confidence that the processes within the staffing firm support that supplemental staff working in their organizations have met the rigorous requirements set by the Joint Commission.
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Health care staffing services certification would provide health care providers with a third party source of information to assist in making informed choices among staffing firms.
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HCSS certification supports and facilitates health care organizations’ efforts to improve quality and safety of care delivered to their patients.
Will certified health care staffing firms receive a Gold Seal of Approval™ for their businesses?
Every location that is certified will receive a gold seal that can be publicly displayed. Certified staffing firms are also encouraged to publicize their achievement to both health care organizations and to prospective employees in an effort to affirm their commitment to quality care and service.
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What are the main components of the certification process?
The certification process will consist primarily of two key elements – compliance with set standards and performance measurement.
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A standard is a statement that defines the performance expectations, structures, or processes that must be substantially in place in an organization or service to enhance quality of care. For more information see
Standard FAQs.
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Performance measurement in health care represents what is done and how well it is done. Performance measurement utilizes performance measures, which are quantitative tools (known as measures or indicators) that are reported as a rate, ratio or percentage. A performance measure provides an indication of an organization’s or service’s performance in relation to a specified process or outcome. For more information see
HCSS performance measurement.
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What is entailed in the on-site review process and how long will the review be?
The length of the on-site visit is dependent upon a number of factors such as a staffing firm’s structure, number and types of placements and number of states to which staff are sent.
Who will typically conduct the review?
A Joint Commission Health Care Staffing Services reviewer who has experience and training specific to the health care staffing services industry will conduct the on-site review.
How long does it take to become certified?
After submission of your application and deposit for certification, typically 60-90 days are needed for application processing and scheduling of the review. Approximately 30 days prior to the scheduled review date, the staffing firm will be notified of their scheduled date and reviewer information (initial applications only). The staffing firm can expect to receive a final certification report from the Joint Commission within 45 days after the on-site review.
How long is the HCSS certification valid?
Effective January 1, 2006, the Health Care Staffing Services certification shifted from an annual review cycle to a biennial review cycle. Reviews conducted in 2006 will be valid for two years. The review will be based on:
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An on-site review, which allows the Joint Commission to evaluate factors relevant to the certification process
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An Intracycle Event, beginning January 2009, which includes an evaluation of the performance measurement activities and other certification topics of interest via conference call with a Joint Commission Reviewer.
What should a supplemental staffing firm do to pursue certification?
Organizations wishing to become certified should contact the Joint Commission at 630.792.5291 to request access to the electronic application for certification.
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What types of resources are available to help staffing firms become certified?
Support resources from Joint Commission Resources (JCR) include:
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Audio Conferences: These conferences are designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the Health Care Staffing Services Certification standards, as well as address key issues to help with preparation for the certification process.
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Health Care Staffing Services Certification Manual: The standards manual for Health Care Staffing Services certification is available at
http://www.jcrinc.com/ or call 1-877-223-6866 to purchase a copy.
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Consulting Services: JCR will have consultants skilled in the HCSS certification process to provide customized support to organizations seeking certification.
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Publications: JCR offers publications on topics including performance measurement and contracted services. Contracted Staff and Patient Safety discusses the Joint Commission’s new certification program for health care and offers practical tools and valuable lessons to effectively hire, orient, train, and work with contracted staff while maintaining high standards of patient safety! Please visit
http://www.jcrinc.com/ for more information.
The Joint Commission Business Development Staff works especially with organizations preparing for their first certification. Resources available include HCSS certification handbook, Review Process Guide and corporate system addendum. Any questions that you have about the overall certification process and your preparation efforts should be directed to (630) 792-5291.
What are the Health Care Staffing Services certification fees?
There are different pricing options for certification, depending on the composition and needs of your staffing firm. For information on pricing for your organization, please email PricingUnit@jointcommission.org or contact 630.792.5115.
For further information on the HCSS certification program, visit the Joint Commission web site or contact Michele Sacco at msacco@jointcommission.org.
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