Media Contact:
Ken Powers
Media Relations Manager
630-792-5175
kpowers@jointcommission.org
(OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. – August 25, 2008) A new grant from The Commonwealth Fund will be used by The Joint Commission to revise and develop accreditation standards for culturally competent patient-centered care in hospitals across America.
This standards development initiative builds upon The Joint Commission’s ongoing Hospitals, Language, and Culture: A Snapshot of the Nation study that examines how hospitals in the United States respond to the diverse cultural and language needs of their patients. The Institute of Medicine’s “Crossing the Quality Chasm” report identified patient-centered and equitable care as important elements of quality. However, The Joint Commission study found that practices used to promote effective communication and cultural competence – critical elements of patient-centered and equitable care - vary widely from hospital to hospital.
“Hospitals face many challenges in caring for a rapidly changing patient population,” says Paul M. Schyve, M.D., senior vice president, The Joint Commission. “Sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural and language needs impact the quality of care, patient safety, and patient and family satisfaction. This Commonwealth Fund-supported initiative will provide a firm foundation for standards that foster culturally competent patient-centered care.”
The Joint Commission initiative will explore how diversity, culture, language, and health literacy issues can be better incorporated into current Joint Commission standards or drafted into new requirements. The standards development process will, as is customary, include a review by interested parties in health care and the public. The Joint Commission will collaborate with The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) to develop an implementation guide to prepare Joint Commission surveyors and accredited hospitals for the release of these new standards, targeted to take effect in 2011.
As part of the project, The Joint Commission is seeking nominations for an Expert Advisory Panel that will review available evidence-based practices and identify principles that can be the basis for new and revised standards. The panel will consist of members who reflect a broad range of stakeholders, including consumers, researchers, purchasers, administrators, quality improvement organizations, clinicians, educators and others. To be considered for appointment to the panel, please complete the electronic nomination form available on The Joint Commission website. Self-nominations are welcome.
For more information about the project, please contact Amy Wilson-Stronks, M.P.P., C.P.H.Q. at awilson-stronks@jointcommission.org or 630-792-5954.