The Joint Commission, with funding from The Commonwealth Fund, is developing proposed accreditation requirements for hospitals to advance effective communication, cultural competence, and patient-centered care. Under the direction of Paul Schyve, MD, and Amy Wilson-Stronks, MPP, this 18-month project 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, is developing an implementation guide to prepare Joint Commission surveyors and accredited hospitals for the potential release of proposed requirements to advance effective communication, cultural competence, and patient-centered care. The duration of the project is August 2008 through January 2010. At the earliest, any implementation of the proposed requirements would occur in January 2011.
- The project explores how diversity, culture, language, and health literacy issues can be better incorporated into current Joint Commission standards or drafted into new requirements.
- The proposed requirements to advance effective communication, cultural competence, and patient-centered care build build upon previous studies and projects, including the research framework from The Joint Commission's ongoing Hospitals, Language, and Culture: A Snapshot of the Nation study and evidence from the current literature.
- A multidisciplinary Expert Advisory Panel, representing a broad range of stakeholders, is providing guidance regarding the principles, measures, structures, and processes that serve as the foundation for the proposed requirements to advance effective communication, cultural competence, and patient-centered care.
Review the proposed requirements to advance effective communication, cultural competence, and patient-centered care for the Hospital Accreditation Program that are currently under revision.
Review existing Joint Commission standards that support effective communication, cultural competence, and patient-centered care.
Meet the project team working to develop hospital standards for culturally competent patient-centered care.
To provide feedback and participate in an interactive discussion about the provision of culturally competent patient-centered care, access the project's WikiHealthCare web page.
For more information, please contact Christina Cordero, PhD, MPH at (630) 792-5845 or ccordero@jointcommission.org.