The Joint Commission is seeking nominations for an Expert Advisory Panel to guide the development of hospital standards that will promote, facilitate, and advance the provision of culturally competent patient-centered care. Under the direction of Paul Schyve, MD and Amy Wilson-Stronks, MPP, CPHQ, this 18-month project, funded by The Commonwealth Fund, will increase national attention to cultural competence, highlight its intersection with patient-centered care, and improve the safety and quality of care for all patients. Additionally, The Joint Commission, in collaboration with the National Health Law Program, will design an implementation guide to prepare Joint Commission surveyors and accredited hospitals for the release of the new standards addressing culturally competent patient-centered care. The duration of the project is August 2008 through January 2010.
Expert Advisory Panel Composition: The Expert Advisory Panel will consist of a broad range of stakeholders, including consumers, researchers, purchasers, administrators, quality improvement organizations, clinicians, educators, and others. Panel members will be appointed based on expertise in the following areas:
- Administration (e.g., CEO, human resources management, clinical management)
- Clinical Practice (e.g., physician, nurse)
- Diversity/Cultural Competence
- Language Access Services
- Pastoral/Spiritual Care
- Patient Advocacy
- Patient-Centered Care
- Patient Safety
- Patient-Provider Communication
- Health Care Policy
- Quality/Measurement
- Research
- Risk Management
- Social Work
- Underserved Populations
Expectations: Members of the Expert Advisory Panel will be required to:
- Provide guidance regarding the principles, measures, structures, and processes that support culturally competent patient-centered care in hospitals and will form the basis for standards
- Review and provide feedback on project deliverables
- Attend 2 face-to-face meetings* during the duration of the project at The Joint Commission headquarters in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Tentative dates for the first day-long meeting are November 10, 2008, November 17, 2008, or December 4, 2008. The Joint Commission will pay for related accommodation, airline, and other travel expenses.
- Participate in conference calls as needed during the duration of the project
The call for Expert Advisory Panel nominations is now closed. Thank you to all who have applied. Only those selected to serve on The Joint Commission's Expert Advisory Panel for the development of hospital standards for culturally competent patient-centered care will be contacted at the conclusion of the selection process in late September. Once all appointments are finalized, the list of Expert Advisory Panel members will be released to the public and available on The Joint Commission website.
For more information, please contact Christina Cordero, PhD, MPH at (630) 792-5845 or ccordero@jointcommission.org.