April 2009

This column informs you of developments and potential revisions that can affect your accreditation and tracks proposed changes before they are implemented. Items may drop off this list before the approval stage if they were rejected at some point in the process. (Reprinted from Perspectives®, April 2009)

APPROVED

Standards Improvement Initiative: Revised “Environment of Care” (EC) chapter for the behavioral health care, laboratory, long term care, and Medicare/Medicaid certification-based long term care programs
Standards Improvement Initiative: Revised “Human Resources” (HR) chapter for the behavioral health care, laboratory, long term care, and Medicare/Medicaid certification-based long term care programs
Standards Improvement Initiative: Revised “Transplant Services” (TS) chapter for the laboratory program
Standards Improvement Initiative: Revised “Waived Testing” (WT) chapter for the behavioral health care, laboratory, long term care, and Medicare/Medicaid certification-based long term care programs

ACCEPTED

Modifications to standards for ambulatory surgical center deemed status corresponding to recently revised Medicare Conditions for Coverage

JOINT COMMISSION FIELD REVIEW

Revisions to the current National Patient Safety Goals using the Standards Improvement Initiative principles—no new goals have been developed—for the ambulatory care, behavioral health care, critical access hospital, disease specific care, home care, hospital, laboratory, long term care, Medicare/Medicaid certification-based long term care, and office-based surgery programs
Standards Improvement Initiative: Revised “Provision of Care Treatment and Services” (PC) chapter for the behavioral health care, long term care, and Medicare/Medicaid certification-based long term care programs
Standards Improvement Initiative: Revised “Rights and Responsibilities of the Individual” (RI) chapter for the behavioral health care, long term care, and Medicare/Medicaid certification-based long term care programs
Standards Improvement Initiative: Revised “Record of Care, Treatment, and Services” (RC) chapter for the behavioral health care, long term care, and Medicare/Medicaid certification-based long term care programs

CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT

Comprehensive Standards Improvement Initiative encompassing the behavioral health care, laboratory, long term care, and Medicare/Medicaid certification-based long term care programs
Potential standards related to Health Information Technology for ambulatory care, behavioral health care, critical access hospital, home care, hospital, laboratory, long term care, Medicare/Medicaid certification-based long term care, and office-based surgery programs
Proposed standards on culturally competent patient-centered care for the hospital program
Nurse staffing effectiveness standard revision for hospital and long term care programs

JOINT COMMISSION INTERNATIONAL

Field review notifications are sent out electronically as well as posted on the Joint Commission International (JCI) Web site. For JCI standards questions, please contact the associate director, International Accreditation Services, at jciaccreditation@jcrinc.com.

IN DEVELOPMENT AT JCI

Revisions to international disease-specific care certification standards

IN COMMITTEE REVIEW

Revisions to international ambulatory care standards
Revisions to international laboratory standards