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News Room
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Take a Look at Who's Talking About The Joint Commission:
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2008: | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr |
2007: | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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AARP The Magazine
April 1, 2008
"Save Your Own Life" by Melissa Gotthardt
When a stroke strikes, seconds count. Swift treatment is crucial to surviving a stroke and limiting its disabling effects. And there's a lot you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones. While not all hospitals are prepared to take care of acute strokes, those that meet the standards for Joint Commission certification are.
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Temple (TX) Daily Telegram
March 11, 2008 "Systems in Place to Keep Patients Safe" by Janice Gibbs Keeping track of all the medications a hospital patient might receive in a given day can be daunting. The Joint Commission, she said, has had medication management standards in place for years and King’s Daughters adheres to those practices. Scott & White also stays compliant with the commission’s annual national patient safety guidelines, said Tricia Meyer, director of Scott & White Hospital pharmacy.
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Medical Imaging News
March 11, 2008 "Joint Commission Issues MRI Safety Alert"
The Joint Commission, alarmed at hundreds of MRI-related accidents over the last decade, recently issued a Sentinel Event Alert and a call for increased safety measures in the MRI suite. “While the capabilities of the MRI scanner are well-recognized, its inherent dangers may not be as well known,” The Joint Commission said, citing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study.
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Modern Healthcare (subscription)
March 10, 2008
"Rates of Change Slowing: AHRQ" by Jean DerGurahian
A new Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality report indicating that the rates of quality and safety improvement are slowing down shows how myriad providers of quality data are ill-prepared to measure consistently and fairly the progress hospitals are making, industry experts argue. Quality groups such as the Joint Commission are pushing for the creation of a standard that might make measuring such errors easier.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
March 5, 2008
"Researching Your Health Provider Can be an Odyssey" by Mary Jo Feldstein
Madonna Laws knows it's not always easy to be a good patient. Laws, who lives in Crestwood, needed bladder surgery earlier this year. Laws preferred not to have her surgery at one local hospital, which she declined to name. She'd had some bad experiences there with her elderly mother. To find quality information on local doctors and hospitals, here are a couple
of places to start.
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Naperville Sun
March 4, 2008
"Germ Warfare" by Katie Foutz
"MRSA sent several students home from Naperville schools last year, but most of the cases nationwide occur in health care settings. Germs lurk on people's hands, doctors' stethoscopes, nurses' computer keyboards - making people sick where they are supposed to get well. to earn accreditation from the Joint Commission, hospitals must follow hand-washing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization.
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Unique Health Remedies
March 3, 2008 "'YOU: The Smart Patient' Should be on the Desk of Every Ill Person" by Lisa Copen When I bought the book “YOU: The Smart Patient: An Insider’s Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment,” by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz a few years ago I had no idea Mehmet Oz or “Doctor Oz” would soon be the hot new guest on Oprah, giving cheery advice on every personal health topic (from the common sense stuff to the unspeakable) on national television. This book is written in conjunction with The Joint Commission.
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Outpatient Surgery Magazine (subscription)
March 2008 "Is Accreditation Really Worth It?" by Robert Kurtz The accreditation process, still largely voluntary, will likely cost you a few thousand dollars each year. The standards are extensive, and it'll take many hours to gather the necessary documentation, develop the proper policies and procedures, track the correct data and prepare for the on-site survey. Here are seven reasons why the accreditation process is a worthwhile investment.
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- Occupational Health & Safety
2/25/08
"Analysis Confirms Hospitals Profit from Patient Safety"
The case for hospitals to invest in patient safety initiatives and to improve their safety cultures is made even stronger than it already was by an analysis published today in the winter issue of California Association of Healthcare Quality Journal. The their report notes that several organizations (including OSHA, CMS, the Joint Commission, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) are accelerating the patient safety movement in the United States.
- Medical News Today
2/16/08
Joint Commission Alert Shines Light on Preventing MRI Accidents, Injuries"
The Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Event Alert that urges hospitals and ambulatory care centers to pay special attention to preventing accidents and injuries that can occur during MRI scans. "MRI technology represents an important advance in diagnostic medicine, but special care must be taken to protect patients," says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission.
- Hospitals & Health Networks
2/15/08
"Quality, Safety Top New Joint Commission Chief's Agenda" by Matthew Weinstock
Dr.Chassin has some grand visions, not the least of which is pushing
and prodding hospitals on patient safety and quality improvement. He wants to improve the Joint Commission’s standing with the public and policy-makers.
- Kansas City Star
2/13/08
"Accrediting Bodies Build Patient Trust" by Robert Cole
There are nearly 5,000 surgery centers operating in the United States, typically owned by large health-care organizations and joint agreements between hospitals and physician groups. Centers can seek voluntary accreditation from The Joint Commission and from programs within specific health disciplines, including plastic surgery.
- Outpatient Surgery Magazine (subscription)
2/1/08
"Medical Malpractice: How to Lower Your Liability Premiums" by Catherine Griswold
With skyrocketing malpractice premiums for physicians and healthcare facilities, it's more important than ever to develop and implement aggressive plans to reduce the number of surgical errors, which in turn reduces the liability of the physicians and the facilities where they operate. Showing an insurance carrier that you have detailed processes in place to reduce errors can lower your liability premiums and slow the rise in premiums in years to come.
- Today's Surgicenter
2/1/08
"Gaining, Maintaining Accreditation is Tough: Is it Worth it to Your ASC?" by Michelle Beaver
Accreditation is a personal matter. Leaders of every ambulatory surgery center (ASC) have their reasons for or against it, and one accrediting body may work better for one facility than for the next. Michael Kulczycki, MBA, executive director of The Joint Commission's Ambulatory Care Accreditation program recommends several questions for ASC leaders to ask themselves.
- Journal for Healthcare Quality
2/1/08
"Interview with a Quality Leader: Mark Chassin, New President of the Joint Commission" by Linda Harrington, Susan V. White
On January 1, 2008, Mark R. Chassin, MD, MPP, MPH, assumed the presidency of The Joint Commission. He has an extensive background in quality improvement.
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Bonner County Daily Bee (Idaho)
1/31/08 2/1/08
"Speak Up and Play an Active Role in Your Health Care" by Lynda Metz
Last fall, Bonner General Hospital implemented the "Speak Up" program, an initiative sponsored by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The "Speak Up" program is designed to improve patient safety and prevent medical errors by urging patients to get involved in their health care. While this is a program designed for hospitals, it provides simple advice that applies to any interaction you may have with the health care system.
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Los Angeles Times
1/28/08
"Patient, Protect Thyself" by Jan Greene
"Mistakes happen even at top-tier hospitals. Consumers can do their part to prevent them. One of the biggest things we can do in healthcare is to help patients understand that they need to be better consumers," says Peter Angood a trauma surgeon and vice president and chief patient safety officer for The Joint Commission.
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MSNBC.com
Jan-08 "Hey Doc, Wash Your Hands" by JoNel Aleccia In an era of rising rates of drug-resistant infections and overburdened medical staffs, hygiene experts say the best-protected patients are those willing to take safety into their own hands — by asking health workers to wash theirs.
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Wall Street Journal
1/9/08 "Learning to Ask Tough Questions of Your Surgeon" by Laura Landro As complications and errors dog some surgical procedures, experts say it is increasingly crucial for patients to vet their surgeons and take an active role in preventing mistakes.To help patients be more pro-active, health-care groups, hospitals and medical specialty societies are offering new resources, including Web sites, books and checklists of questions to ask. quality groups such as the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals and other health-care providers, have in recent years pushed the adoption of new safety measures, such as the use of pre-surgery antibiotics to prevent infections, and post-surgical monitoring to prevent strokes or blood clots.
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West County Times
1/7/08
"Medication Errors are Common, but Hospitals Tackling Problem" by Sandy Kleffman
For years the issue received little attention, but now many hospitals are tackling the problem head-on, and some are showing notable results. Since The Joint Commission announced that drug errors would be part of its 2007 patient safety goals, awareness has heightened and more aggressive programs have been implemented at hospitals throughout the nation.
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Chicago Tribune
1/2/08
"Technology Cuts Risk of Surgical Sponges" by Bruce Japsen
The problem of left-behind sponges is hardly new. A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that sponges and other foreign objects were left behind after abdominal surgeries at a rate of 1 for every 1,000 to 1,500 such operations. Several medical-products companies say sponges are the most common foreign objects left behind in surgeries. Although The Joint Commission says purchasing a sponge-detection system is not mandatory, it strongly encourages hospitals to look at all processes involved in the potential for foreign objects to be left in a patient.
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Managed Healthcare Executive1/1/08 " Networking Sites Become the New Doctors' Lounge" by Ken Krinzer Most physicians practice in groups of five or fewer, and they spend less time in the hospital than in years past. Even informal, coincidental interaction in hospital lounges is less frequent. The need for peer-to-peer interaction remains important, however, and technology is revolutionizing the way physicians can interact. The idea of collaboration and consultation is strong throughout the healthcare industry. It is also part of the mission of The Joint Commission, an independent organization that accredits and certifies more than 15,000 healthcare entities and programs in the United States.
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- Advance for Nurses
12/24/07
"A Patient's Voice" by Sandy Keefe
The Joint Commission's Speak Up campaign is working, nursing leaders say. Five years into the nationwide Speak Up campaign to encourage patients to become active participants in their health care, nursing leaders from around the country told ADVANCE the initiative has been beneficial for both patients and staff.
- Oncology Issues
December 1, 2007
"Medication Reconciliation: Meeting the Challenge" by Thomas Ross
Excerpt: Medication reconciliation is endorsed by leading organizations, such as The Joint Commission and the Institute for Healthcare improvement, as a proven methodology to reduce adverse events and is perceived by healthcare providers to be of great value to patient safety. . .
- Outpatient Surgery Magazine (subscription)
December 1, 2007
"Thinking of Buying…Wrong-site Surgery Prevention Products" by Peter Angood
In theory, one of the most serious surgical errors should be the easiest one to prevent. In practice, though, the variables that can risk a patient's safety always exist in the OR. Article features a collection of safety aids to mark the correct site and follow Universal Protocol.
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- San Antonio Express-News
November 30, 2007
"Scaring Patients Away from the Operating Room?" by Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje
The tag line for the new movie ""Awake," which opened Friday, promises that the film will "do for surgery what 'Jaws' did for swimming." Article cites Joint Commission statistics and profiles statements and recommendations from Sentinel Event Alert.
- Advance for Nurses
November 27, 2007
"Community of Collaboration"
The Joint Commission recently expanded its online WikiHealthCare Forum to include collaborative standards development. Article profiles the site's purpose and structure.
- US News & World Report
November 13, 2007
"Of Ocean Liners, Sheep, and Hospitals" by Avery Comarow
Improving America's Hospitals, the annual report from The Joint Commission is stuffed with numbers showing how well hospitals are or aren't complying with measures that have everything to do with good, safe, care.
- The Tennessean
November 13, 2007
"Transparency is Best Route to Good Care" by Andrew Gaffney, MD
There are many resources available to help balance personal preference, quality and cost when buying a home, a car, or a child's education. Similar resources are generally not available for guiding health care choices. Article cites Joint Commission as a good public resource on hospital quality.
- Europe Healthcare IT NewsDay Europe
November 2, 2007
"Countries Unite on Patient Safety" by Bernie Monegain
Top health leaders from Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States met Thursday to sign a letter of intent to support patient safety efforts. The World Health Organization Action on Patient Safety Initiative, known as the "High 5s Project," seeks to improve the safety of patients around the world.
- Medical News Today
November 1, 2007
"Joint Commission Launches New COPD Certification Program"
The Joint Commission has officially launched its COPD Disease-Specific Care Program. Based on standards developed with input from an expert task force that included AARC member Brian L. Smith, BA, RRT, the program will give health care organizations the chance to demonstrate their commitment to state-of-the-art practices in the management of COPD. Article profiles key elements of the program.
- Nursing Management (subscription)
November 1, 2007
"Leadership Chapter revisions: Everybody Wins" by Pat Adamski
The Joint Commission has recently approved revisions to the Leadership chapter, which will become effective in January 2009. The restructured chapter now has a section on organization culture and system performance, and includes new requirements for a culture of safety and quality. Article is a Q & A on key issues regarding the standards.
- Pharmacy Practice News
11/1/07
"Patients Gain Online Access to Joint Commission Data"
In this age of increasing consumer access to online healthcare information, add one more byte to patients' knowledge base: your hospital's Joint Commission accreditation status. In addition to accreditation status, the website includes details on a facility's performance in several key areas of patient care.
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- Greenwich Time
October 29, 2007
"Retail-based Medical Clinics Would Fill Need, Advocates Say" by Hoa Nguyen
As many doctors nervously eye the growing popularity of pharmacies and other retail stores opening up medical clinics, a health care advocate is embracing the concept because she believes it will increase the options available to residents, particularly people with no or little insurance.
- American Medical News (subscription) - USA
October 22, 2007
Opinion: "Dont Duck the Flu Shot"
Excerpt: Things are looking up this flu season. Memories still may be fresh about the recent experiences in which vaccine distribution was marred by shortages, delays and other hiccups. . .
- Oncology Times
October 10, 2207
"Upcoming Joint Commission Certification"
Further lending credibility to the palliative care field is that sometime in April, the Joint Commission will launch a Health Care Services Certification in Palliative Care. Article includes a profile of the purpose, structure and development of the program.
- Boston Globe
October 8, 2007
"For the Sake of Patients, Doctors Need Flu Shots" by Stephen Smith
Hospitals from Boston to Seattle are bribing workers with granola bars, throwing immunizationparties, and, in one case, forcing unvaccinated staff members to wear face masks in the hopes of persuading more medical personnel to get an annual flu shot. Article describes Joint Commission requirements.
- Risk & Insurance
October 1, 2007
"Industry Risk Report: Health Care Talk Isn't Cheap" by Dan Reynolds
Improving communication among doctors, nurses and patients can help reduce medical errors, but doing so sometimes means making sure that strategy triumphs over culture. Article profiles the Seninel Event policy.
- Trustee
October 1, 2007
"Disaster: Are You Prepared?" by Susan Meyers
Trustees have a fiduciary duty to ensure that, when it comes to disasters, the hospital's mission will be a touchstone guiding their hospital to protect potential victims and care for actual ones in the most efficient and effective ways possible. Article discusses the importance of disaster preparedness.
- Health Management Technology
October 1, 2007
"Winning the Battle for Standardization"
The U.S. Army Medical Department examines the EMR to develop a standardized process for medication reconciliation documentation. Article states that, since the debut of Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals, hundreds of hospitals and health care systems, including the Army, have pursued the idea of building a standardized process for helping clinicians and patients keep track of medications.
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- Derrick (Oil City, PA)
September 26, 2007
"Hospital steps up fight against stroke"
UPMC Northwest's comprehensive stroke program is the only one of its kind in western Pennsylvania and is using telemedicine to further distinguish itself and potentially achieve Joint Commission certification.
- Nursing Spectrum
9/24/07
"Patient Safety Depends on Health Literacy" by Kathleen Louden
Health literacy is more than a buzzword in healthcare. Experts say health literacy is important to ensure patient safety. America's health literacy problem is so serious the Joint Commission assembled an advisory panel to offer solutions. According to the panel's recently published report on how to improve health literacy, awareness of the problem is low and a solution will require the cooperation of all healthcare providers.
- CNNMoney.com
September 18, 2007
"Helping Doctors and Nurses Get the Right Drug to the Right Patient"
Hospitals are supposed to make you better, but sometimes they make you sicker. Patients can come down with infections, fall in the hallways or receive the wrong medications. Patient safety issues are getting more attention from state and federal regulators, as well as the hospital certification body known as the Joint Commission.
- Drug Topics
September 17, 2007
"Many Hospitals are Still Non-compliant on Medication Reconciliation" by Martin Sipkoff
Excerpt: A recent Institute for Safe Medication Practices teleconference with a surveyor from The Joint Commission highlighted the rigor with which TJC is implementing its medication management standards and National Patient Safety Goals. . .
- Healthcare Review
September 13, 2007
"Quality for your Board: The Compelling Reasons for Board Assessment" by Gary Daniels
Assuring the quality of care provided in your organization is one of the most important responsibilities of your board, if not the most important. Article states that due to challenges from Joint Commission (among others), boards have raised their standards of quality measurement and improvement for their organization's physicians, management and staff.
- Observer News Enterprise (Newton, NC)
September 13, 2007
"Choose…A Hospital"
How can you choose the best quality hospital for the care you need? It is important to consider quality, because research shows that some hospitals simply do a better job than others. Article encourages readers to look for a Joint Commission accredited hospital and gives an overview of the survey process and accreditation decisions.
- TMCnet
September 8, 2007
"CMS/Joint Commission Hospital Quality Measures Is it the Federal Grade for Quality?" by Richard T. Griffey, MD
Ask any of your colleagues, "Do you provide quality care?" The answer is, of course, but how do you know? It is because most of your patients seem to do OK? Quality in healthcare has been hard to define, and this task has baffled many. Article describes Joint Commission as the nation's premier accrediting body and its evolution in setting standards and measuring quality.
- Today's Surgicenter
September 1, 2007
"Accreditation: Raising the Bar - and Expectations - for the ASC Community"
The landscape of surgical services has grown exponentially since 1970. Today ASCs continue to shine as a high-quality, low-cost option for individuals in need of a surgical procedure. Article discusses what accreditation means in ambulatory care, describes Speak Up program, and contains third party endorsements of standards and NPSGs.
- American Journal of Clinical Pathology
September 1, 2007
"Impact of Critical Value Cutoffs on Laboratory Operations" by Christine L. Schmotzer, Corinne R. Fantz
Immediate reporting of critical laboratory values is an integral part of quality patient care; however, no clear consensus exists in the literature as to what values should be considered critical for each laboratory test. Article states that adhering to Joint Commission requirement that clinicians document action taken on receiving a critical result could lead to the establishment of institution-appropropriate critical values that will maintain a high degree of patient safety.
- HealthLeaders Media
September 2007
"Collaboration Upgrade" by Lola Butcher
Forget paper documents and telephone calls — healthcare organizations are using Web 2.0 technology to foster a more efficient form of employee communication. Article describes the launch of Joint Commission's Wiki site, purpose, and topics.
- Pharmacy Practice News
September 2007
"Cutting Through Confusion of Treating Heart Failure"
New sets of guidelines can help clinicians navigate the maze of complex treatment of heart failure patients. New research has found that following programs that employ evidence-based therapy can extend the life of heart failure patients while shortening their hospital stays. Article profiles a study of treatment of patients that showed improvement in performance measures employed by Joint Commission.
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- American Medical News
August 13, 2007
"Medical Errors Significant Source of Stress for Doctors" by Damon Adams
Doctors experience anxiety and lose their confidence when they are involved with a medical error, a new study found.
- Health Management Technology
August 1, 2007
"Weathering the Perfect Storm" by Margaret Reiter, Timothy Kelly
A perfect storm is brewing around the concept of "informed consent" and its impact may have wide-ranging business implications for health care facilities that do not heed the warning signs. Article cites Joint Commission's white paper "What did the doctor say?" as an example of the shift in looking at informed consent and summarizes the paper's recommendations.
- Outpatient Surgery Magazine
August 1, 2007
"Faster Recoveries" by Miriam Lizarde
Understanding conscious sedation's anesthetic agents and monitoring protocols will promote safe and efficient discharges. Article describes Joint Commission guidelines as a great foundation for post-sedation discharge treatment.
- Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology
August 1, 2007
"State of the Surveys: 18 Months of Joint Commission Unannounced Surveys" by Andrea Hall
Prior to The Joint Commission's policy of unannounced surveys organizations were on an oscillating cycle. Since unannounced surveys began, the theme has changed from "Get Ready" to "Stay Ready." Article discusses organizations' adapation to the different survey cycle.
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- Advance for Nurses
July 30, 2007
"Med Reconciliation: Making it Work" by Rhonda Johnson
In 2005 The Joint Commission reviewed 358 events related to medication errors. Article profiles the development of Joint Commission's NPSG addressing medication reconciliation, and states that errors can be reduced if organizations remain consistent to the process.
- USA Today
July 29, 2007
"The Spotlight Grows on Outpatient Surgery" by Mary Brophy Marcus
According to The Joint Commission, one of four independent organizations that accredit ASCs,the number of outpatient surgical clinics climbed 25% from 2001 to 2006. By last September, 4,618 outpatient surgical centers were registered with Medicare, estimated to be more than half of all centers.Outpatient surgical centers offer a lot more than Lasik and mole removal, says Michael Kulczycki,executive director of The Joint Commission's ambulatory accreditation program.
- USA Today
July 25, 2007
"Communication Now Part of the Cure" by Erin Donaghue
Miscommunication puts patients at greater risk of becoming victims of preventable medical errors, according to a report this year by the Joint Commission, a national hospital accreditation organization. The article states that the problem is so widespread that government agencies and non-profits are working to improve communication practices at hospitals.
- Forbes.com
July 24, 2007
"Cutting Out of Sugery" by Maureen Farrell
Between 2000 and 2005, the number of freestanding outpatient surgery centers in the U.S. increased 76% to 5,063 based on a study. According to the Joint Commission's Michael Kulczycki, physicians can control their time if they are doing procedures in the office, and patients prefer to have surgeries done at a time and place convenient to them.
- Washington Post
July 23, 2007
"U.S. Heart Failure Program is Saving Lives"
A national program to improve heart failure patient care in U.S. hospitals is working, researchers say. According to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, OPTIMIZE-HF, the largest heart failure quality improvement program undertaken, showed improvement in 3 of the 4 Joint Comission performance measures used to gauge the quality of heart care in hospitals. Article notes that improvement in Joint Commission measures is a favorable outcome in the program's success.
- FoxNews.com
July 18, 2007
"Survey Finds Doc Stress Mistakes" by Lindsey Tanner (AP)
Job stress related to medical errors could make some doctors prone to depression , quitting or even making additional mistakes. According to a study published in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 2,909 out of 3,171 physician respondents said they had been involved with a near miss, a minor medical error or serious medical error. Joint Commission is mentioned a involved in nationwide efforts to reduce medical errors.
- Expresspharmaonlone.com
July 16, 2007
"From Clipboards to Keyboards" by Nancy Singh
Electronic Medical Record (EMR) helps maintain large number of records for decades, aids in updating and editing the records and allows easy access to information.
- WTOK-TV - Meridian, MS
July 13, 2007
"Healthwatch: Reconciling Medications for Better Care"
The Joint Commission's 2008 patient safety goals include accuracy in patient ID and reconciling all medications, whether prescribed or not. Article cites the goal in the context of the importance of reconciling medications to better meet patient needs in the emergency room.
- AORN Management Connections
July 2007
"Review Joint Commission Standards" by Carina Stanton
When The Joint Commission, which accredits thousands of
healthcare institutions, speaks on standards of performance by
providers, every perioperative manager pays attention.
- New York Times - United States
July 10, 2007
"Finding Dr. Right for a Serious Diagnosis"
Excerpt: When you get a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness, you want to find the doctors and hospitals that can provide the best possible care...
- The Wall Street Journal
July 10, 2007
"How to Size Up Your Hospital"
Excerpt: Improved Public Databases Let People Compare Practices And Outcomes; the Importance of Looking Past the Numbers...
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Pittsburgh, PA
July 6, 2007
"Family Finances: How to cope with unmanageable medical expenses"
Excerpt: One of the greatest threats to your family's financial security -- particularly now that the population is aging -- is unmanageable medical expenses...
- IHI.org - A resource from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement
July 5, 2007
"In Good Company: The Gathering Force of Board Engagement with Quality and Safety"
Excerpt: Decades have passed since researchers first identified major shortfalls in US health care quality...
- AORN Management Connections
July 2007
"Review Joint Commission Standards" by Carina Stanton
When The Joint Commission, which accredits thousands of
healthcare institutions, speaks on standards of performance by
providers, every perioperative manager pays attention.
- Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
July 1, 2007
"Underresourced Hospital Infection Control and Prevention Programs: Penny Wise, Pound Foolish?" by Deverick J. Anderson, MD, MPH, Kathryn B. Kirkland, MD, Keith S. Kaye, MD, MPH, et al
Approximately 1 in every 20 hospitalized patients experiences 1 or more hospital associated infections leading to an estimated 2.1 million HAIs annually in the United States.
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- American Medical News (subscription) - USA
June 25, 2007
"Majority of hospitals slow to adopt routine apology policy"
Excerpt: More than 100 physicians and hospital officials gathered for a two-day Joint Commission seminar last month exploring the benefits, and challenges, ...
- El Paso Times - El Paso, TX
June 22, 2007
"Patients shouldn't hesitate to ask about care"
Excerpt: The Joint Commission, the country's foremost organization to set standards for and accredit health-care facilities, has established a program called Speak ...
- South Carolina Now - South Carolina
June 21, 2007
"Carolinas plans 'time out' for patient safety"
Excerpt: ... take place before any invasive procedures by all health-care facilities accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. ...
- Pueblo Business Journal - Pueblo, CO
June 15, 2007
"JC's Speak Up program focuses on patient rights"
Excerpt: The Joint Commission has launched a national campaign to help Americans understand their rights when receiving medical care. "Know Your Rights" is part of ...
- Boston Globe - United States
June 11, 2007
"MGH program teaches caregivers to tend to the spiritual need of ..."
Excerpt: The Joint Commission, formerly the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, has for years "required hospitals to accommodate the ...
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Columbia Missourian
June 9, 2007
"Crossing the life line"
Excerpt: The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations responded to these concerns by requiring hospitals to adopt policies on organ donation by ...
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Quality Management In Health Care - Volume 16, Issue 2, April-June 2007
"Control Limits for p Control Charts With Small Subgroup Sizes"
Excerpt: The p chart is widely used in health care and other service organizations as well as in manufacturing to monitor the proportion of observations with some particular characteristics for comparing several sources of data or for tracking a single source of data over time.
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American Medical News (subscription) - USA
June 4, 2007
"Assessing quality on cardiovascular care"
Excerpt: A new report from the Joint Commission describes improved hospital performance measures of quality care for heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. ...
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Nursing Management
June 1, 2007
"Infection Control: It's in Your Hands" by Linda K. Goss
Hand hygiene is one of the most effective methods for decreasing the spread of infection. Many continue to struggle with the issue of compliance monitoring, evaluation of obstacles to improve compliance and the sustainabilty of interventions. Article mentions The Joint Commission's call for hand hygiene measurement methods and says that it recognizes that standardization is extremely important in reporting trends and in incorporation of a measuring tool.
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Hospital Pharmacy - United States
June 1, 2007
"Common Sense and Medication Reconciliation: An Outsiders View" by Dennis Cada, PharmD, FASHP, FASCP
The Joint Commission's 2005 patient safety goal on medication reconciliation is a good example of common sense. Column cites the goal as an example of something that will make a difference to oncology patients.
- Facility Care Magazine
June 1, 2007
"Being Prepared for the Worst" by Douglas Burlingmair
Emergency preparedness is a popular topic these days. Federal grant dollars are flowing and hospitals are receiving equipment and monies for supplies and staff education. The semiannual emergency preparedness drills that the Joint Commission requires offer another opportunity. Joint Commission is mentioned as a solution to ensuring that emergencies are handled in the best possible way.
- Infection Control Today
June 1, 20007
"Hand Hygiene Programs Prove Successful" by Michelle Beaver
Hand hygiene is more complex than meets the eye, but ironically the most complex aspect of this practice involves getting people to follow it in the first place. The Joint Commission's "Speak Up" program encourages patients to get more involved with the health care they receive by asking questions and expecting quality. Article includes positive quote about the program from hospital staff and includes program language.
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- The New York Times
May 28, 2007
"Lost Chances for Survival, Before and After Stroke"
Excerpt: Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in this country, behind heart disease and cancer, killing 150,000 Americans a year, leaving many more permanently disabled. . .
- Crain's Cleveland Business - Cleveland, OH
May 14, 2007
"Drug samples on way out of many doctors’ offices"
Excerpt: The Joint Commission, the accrediting agency for hospitals, in recent years has created more stringent rules for accepting, keeping and distributing free ...
- Voice of America
May 2, 2007
"WHO Lists 9 Ways to Prevent Health Care Errors"
Excerpt: In 2005, the WHO designated the U.S.-based Joint Commission and the Joint Commission International as its Collaborating Center on Patient Safety Solutions. The Joint Commission and its international branch evaluate and accredit health care organizations in the United States and overseas.
- Infection Control Today
May 2, 2007
"WHO Collaborating Centre for Patient Safety Releases Nine Life-Saving Patient Safety Solutions"
Excerpt: In 2005, the WHO designated the U.S.-based Joint Commission and the Joint Commission International as its Collaborating Center on Patient Safety Solutions. The Joint Commission and its international branch evaluate and accredit health care organizations in the United States and overseas.
- Annals of Internal Medicine
May 2007
"The Ethics of Using Quality Improvement Methods in Health Care"
Excerpt: Quality improvement (QI) activities can improve health care but must be conducted ethically. The Hastings Center convened leaders and scholars to address ethical requirements for QI and their relationship to regulations protecting human subjects of research.
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- Annals of Surgery
April 2007
“Achieving the National Quality Forum’s ‘Never Events’: Prevention of Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, and Wrong Patient Operations”
Excerpt: Higher-level policies or programs have been implemented by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Veteran's Health Administration, Canadian Orthopaedic, and the North American Spine Society Associations to reduce wrong site surgery.
- Boston Globe
April 21, 2007
"Five Boston hospitals release data on inspections"
Excerpt: Five large Boston teaching hospitals that were inspected by a national oversight organization in the past eight months have taken the unusual step of releasing the normally confidential results, and several said more problems were found than in the past under a revised inspection system. The system includes surprise visits and delves more deeply into the care actually provided to patients in the hospital at the time of the inspection -- a shift that has led to more safety concerns being turned up at hospitals nationwide.
- Taunton Gazette - Taunton, MA
April 19, 2007
"Births in print seen as security risk"
Excerpt: Restricting information about births is recommended by The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as a security measure. The cases of newborns being stolen from hospitals have led to tighter security measures in maternity wards.
- International Journal for Quality in Health Care
April 2007
"LEP patients more likely to suffer adverse events resulting in harm"
Excerpt: When receiving care in U.S. hospitals, patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) are more likely than their English-speaking counterparts to experience adverse events that result in physical harm, according to a study in the International Journal for Quality in Health Care. Aiming to examine care disparities affecting the LEP population--which has increased from 6% of the U.S. population in 1990 to 8% in 2000--Joint Commission researchers analyzed 1,083 adverse event reports from six facilities. The researchers found that 49.1% of adverse events involving LEP patients resulted in some physical harm, compared with 29.5% of adverse events involving English-speaking patients. LEP patients were also more likely to experience a greater degree of harm, ranging from moderate temporary harm to death. Moreover, LEP patients experienced a greater proportion of adverse events stemming from communication lapses such as questionable assessment of patient needs; organizational errors including inadequate knowledge transfer or facility protocols and processes were also seen in a higher percentage of adverse events involving LEP patients. In light of the findings, the researchers conclude that language barriers appear to increase the risks to patient safety,adding that LEP patients should be given access to competent language services. They also emphasize the importance of collecting data on patients' native language and communication needs so hospitals can tailor improvement efforts to their patient populations.
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- AHA News Now
March 30, 200
"Report recommends strategies for addressing language, cultural challenges"
Excerpt: A new report from the Joint Commission recommends strategies to address the language and cultural issues that challenge hospitals as they strive to deliver safe, effective care to diverse patient populations. For example, the report recommends that hospitals serving diverse populations establish a centralized program to coordinate services relating to language and culture; implement a uniform framework for systematic collection of data on race, ethnicity and language; and provide ongoing training to staff on how and when to access language services. The recommendations are based on a study of how 60 hospitals are providing health care to culturally and linguistically diverse patient populations. ”These findings cannot be generalized to all hospitals, but they provide detailed information about many ways that culture and language issues are being addressed in hospitals,” the authors say.
- USA Today
March 27, 2007
"Report: Patient illiteracy threatens health care"
Excerpt: Miscommunications between patients and health care providers are increasing the chances that people who need medical care will be hurt or killed in the process, according to a report from a health care accreditation group. While cultural and language barriers pose problems for patient-doctor communication, poor general literacy skills can be just as great an impediment, according to The Joint Commission, which accredits nearly 15,000 U.S. health care organizations and programs.
- National Center for Policy Analysis - Dallas, TX
March 26, 2007
"Patient Illiteracy Threatens Health Care"
Excerpt: Miscommunications between patients and health care providers are increasing the chances that people who need medical care will be hurt or killed in the process, according to a report from a health care accreditation group. While cultural and language barriers pose problems for patient-doctor communication, poor general literacy skills can be just as great an impediment, according to the Joint Commission, which accredits nearly 15,000 U.S. health care organizations and programs.
- St. Petersburg Times -- Tampa Bay, FL
March 21, 2007
"Hospitals get low grades"
Excerpt: For patients who think all hospitals are pretty much the same when it comes to treating routine medical conditions, the nation's leading hospital accreditation agency has some surprising news: Think again. According to data gathered by the Joint Commission...seven west-central Florida hospitals fall below national performance benchmarks in their treatment of heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia.
- For The Record
Vol. 19 No. 4 P. 20
"Pay for Performance: The Boost Healthcare Needs?"
By Aggie Stewart
Excerpt: Some believe aligning the right incentives with quality performance can help save an ailing industry.
- BNA's Health Care Policy Report
February 12, 2007
"JCAHO White Paper Suggests Ways to Improve Provider-Patient Communications"
Excerpt: A communications gap exists between patients and caregivers because important health care information is communicated by practitioners using medical jargon and confusing language that typically exceeds the literacy level of some patients, according to a public policy white paper released Feb. 7 by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
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- Charlotte Observer
February 13, 2007
"Waking up during surgery: It's scary, but not common"
Excerpt: A study that followed 87,361 anesthesia patients in eight Charlotte-area hospitals and three ambulatory care centers over three years found that the incidence of intraoperative awareness can be much lower than previously thought if doctors are aware of the potential problem and take action to prevent it.
- AHA News Now
February 8, 2007
"Report recommends strategies to improve health literacy"
Excerpt: A new report by the Joint Commission suggests ways to improve the health literacy of patients, noting that medical jargon and unclear language can place patients at risk. “If patients lack basic understanding of their conditions and the whats and whys of the treatments prescribed, therapeutic goals can never be realized and patients may instead by placed in harm’s way,” said Joint Commission President Dennis O’Leary, M.D. The suggestions from a Joint Commission expert roundtable focus on making effective communications a priority in protecting the safety of patients; addressing patient communications needs across the spectrum of care; and pursuing public policy changes that promote better communications between health care practitioners and patients.
- Modern Healthcare Online (Registration required)
February 7, 2007
"Commission stressing health literacy"
Excerpt: The Joint Commission today released a new white paper, What Did the Doctor Say? Improving Health Literacy to Protect Patient Safety, which includes 35 recommendations that doctors and healthcare organizations can do to improve communication with patients. At a news conference announcing the paper’s release, Commission President Dennis O’Leary noted that communication problems have been identified as the root cause of a serious medical adverse event in almost 70% of the cases in his organization’s sentinel-event database.
- USA Today
February 5, 2007
"Patient, protect thyself"
Excerpt: The Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals, has launched a program called Speak Up to encourage patients to follow Trumbull's example. ...
- Behavioral Healthcare
February 1, 2007
"Refining Requirements" by Mary Cesare-Murphy, Ph.D.
Excerpt: While accreditation standards and survey processes for behavioral healthcare organizations accredited by the The Joint Commission have not changed significantly, several notable refinements take effect for 2007.
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- Boston Globe
January 30, 2007
"More than half Boston hospital workers got flu shots"
Excerpt: "JCAHO told us to immunize 100 percent of health care workers who don’t have a contraindication," Beth Israel's Wright said. "We’re trying to get to that ...
- Consumer Affairs
January 29, 2007
"Medical Vacations" - A Good Idea?
Excerpt: One way to do that is to determine that the facility has been certified by the Joint Commission International (JCI), a wing of the Joint Commission on ...
- U.S. News & World Report
January 21, 2007
"Get Me a Neurosurgeon, Stat!"
Excerpt: As fewer doctors sign up for on-call emergency room duty, patients suffer
- United Press International
January 24, 2007
"Pre-op briefings reduce errors"
Excerpt: ... and is technically required before every operation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which evaluates and accredits ...
- CCH® Medicare
January 22, 2007
"JCAHO, JCR firewall require continuous reassessment"
Excerpt: While the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and its not-for-profit affiliate, Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR), have taken steps to prevent the improper sharing of information, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report concluded that it would be prudent for JCAHO and JCR to continually assess their preventative mechanisms.
- Kaisernetwork.org
January 18, 2007
"No Conflict of Interest Between JCAHO, Subsidiary JCR, Report Finds"
Excerpt: JCAHO accredits hospitals for participation in government programs such as Medicare. In 1986, JCAHO created JCR to assist health care organizations in ...
- North Shore Magazine (subscription required)
January 2007
"Hospital Guide 2007"
Excerpt: "To help you select the best hospital for your needs, we've provided information on local hospitals' top specialties and their newest services and facilities, as well as valuable statistics from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations."
- Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science
Volume 4, Number 4, 2006
"Interview with Dennis S. O'Leary, MD, President, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations"
- WQAD - Moline, Illinois
January 3, 2007
"Medical Breakthrough - Choose the Right Hospital"
Excerpt: To check your local hospital's accreditation status, log on to the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organization's website.
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2007
- Language Proficiency and Adverse Events in U.S. Hospitals: A Pilot Study
International Journal for Quality in Health Care 2007; 2007; 19: 60-67
by Divi C, Koss RG, Schmaltz SP, Loeb JM.
- Hospital Financial Condition and Operational Decisions Related to the Quality of Hospital Care.
Medical Care Research and Review 2007; 64: 148-168.
by Bazzoli GJ, Clement JP, Lindrooth RC, Chen HF, Aydede SK, Braun BI, Loeb LM.
- Specifying and Standardizing Performance Measures for Use at a National Level: Implications for Nursing-Sensitive Care Performance Measures.
Medical Care Research and Review 2007; 64: 64S-81S.
by Riehle AI, Hanold LS, Sprenger SL, Loeb JM.
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