http://www.jointcommission.orgJoint Commissionhttp://www.jointcommission.org//nr_mark_g_pelletier_chief_operating_officer/The Joint Commission today announced the appointment of Mark G. Pelletier, R.N., M.S., as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) in the division of Accreditation and Certification Operations.Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 22 May 2013 10:44:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//nr_educational_campaign_on_adult_depression/The Joint Commission has launched a new Speak Up™ campaign during Mental Health Awareness Month to help people become better informed about the common warning signs of adult depression, how to get the most out of treatments for depression, and advice for how to speak up if they or a loved one needs [...]Bret CoonsTue, 21 May 2013 08:51:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//joint_commission_announces_accreditation_davita_inpatient_dialysis_units/For the first time, The Joint Commission has awarded Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation to an inpatient kidney care provider DaVita Hospital Services. Denver based DaVita, with nearly 700 sites located in Joint Commission-accredited hospitals across the U.S., is a division of DaVita HealthCare Par [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniMon, 29 Apr 2013 10:30:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//take_5_podcast_series_offers_fresh_perspective_on_health_care_topics/Health care professionals and others interested in improving health care quality and safety have a new resource — the “Take 5” podcast series from The Joint Commission, a series of casual conversations on health care topics.Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniMon, 22 Apr 2013 09:07:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//new_joint_commission_alert_addresses_medical_device_alarm_safety_in_hospitals/The constant beeping of alarms and an overabundance of information transmitted by medical devices such as ventilators, blood pressure monitors and ECG (electrocardiogram) machines is creating “alarm fatigue” that puts hospital patients at serious risk, according to a Sentinel Event Alert issued toda [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniMon, 08 Apr 2013 07:59:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//new_joint_commission_speak_up_video_tackles_pain/The Joint Commission has released “Speak Up: About Your Pain,” an engaging animated video that illustrates the reasons why it is important for patients to speak up about their pain and provides easy-to-understand examples for the general public.Bret CoonsWed, 27 Feb 2013 08:44:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//joint_commission_jcr_present_2013_emergency_preparedness_conference/Within just the past two years, NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, N.Y., has had to evacuate its staff and patients twice due to Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy. On May 1-2, 2013, Kristin Stevens, the director of emergency management at NYU Langone Medical Center, will present what hospita [...]Bret CoonsFri, 22 Feb 2013 11:21:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//joint_commission_to_offer_pcmh_certification_hospitals_critical_access_hospitals/The Joint Commission today announced it is now offering a new Primary Care Medical Home certification option for accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals.Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 20 Feb 2013 09:38:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//joint_commission_new_hot_topics_urges_teamwork_transitions_of_care/The Joint Commission today released a new “Hot Topics in Health Care” that urges greater collaboration among health care providers in order to improve care as patients move from one health care setting to another. Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniTue, 19 Feb 2013 10:41:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//joint_commission_castillo_medical_director_div_hqe/The Joint Commission today announced the appointment of Daniel J. Castillo, M.D., as the medical director in the Division of Healthcare Quality Evaluation. Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniFri, 08 Feb 2013 09:33:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//2012_eisenberg_patient_safety_and_quality_award_recipients_announced/The National Quality Forum (NQF) and The Joint Commission have announced the 2012 recipients of the annual John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards. Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 06 Feb 2013 09:18:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_certifies_1000th_primary_stroke_center/The Joint Commission and The American Heart/American Stroke Association have announced that Trinity Health in Minot, North Dakota, is the 1,000th Certified Primary Stroke Center in the U.S.Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 16 Jan 2013 11:16:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_debuts_nursing_and_rehabilitation_centers/The Joint Commission today announced its new Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Accreditation program, and for the first time is offering a Rehabilitation and Advanced Care Certification option. The Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Accreditation program, which replaces the Long Term Care Accreditati [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniMon, 07 Jan 2013 08:28:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//accreditation_of_mercy_rehabilitation_hospital_marks_joint_commission_milestone_/Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital, a hospital dedicated to the treatment of patients with stroke, brain injury and other debilitating conditions in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was announced as the 20,000th organization to have currently achieved accreditation or certification from The Joint Commission. Bret CoonsWed, 05 Dec 2012 08:28:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_publishes_patient_and_worker_safety_monograph/The Joint Commission today released a free monograph, “Improving Patient and Worker Safety: Opportunities for Synergy, Collaboration and Innovation,” to draw attention to the need to create a culture that focuses on both the safety of patients and the health care workers who care for them. Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniTue, 20 Nov 2012 10:21:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_and_jcr_announce_2013_board_appointments/The Joint Commission has announced the appointment of Rebecca Patchin, M.D., as 2013 chair of the Board of Commissioners. Craig Jones, FACHE, will serve as vice chair. In addition, Joint Commission Resources (JCR) announced the appointment of LaMar S. McGinnis, M.D., FACS, as 2013 chair of its Board [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniMon, 19 Nov 2012 10:15:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//stanford_hospital__clinics_awarded_first_comprehensive_stroke_center_certification/The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association together announced that The Stanford Stroke Center at Stanford Hospital & Clinics in Palo Alto, California, is the first hospital in the country to meet The Joint Commission’s standards for Disease-Specific Care Comp [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniFri, 16 Nov 2012 09:43:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_offers_free_online_continuing_education_course/The Joint Commission today announced the launch of Strategies for Improving Rapid Influenza Testing in Ambulatory Settings (SIRAS), a free continuing education (CE) course designed for physicians, physician assistants and registered nurses who provide care in ambulatory settings. SIRAS was developed [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniMon, 15 Oct 2012 08:26:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_releases_speak_up_what_you_need_to_know_about_your_serious_illness_and_palliative_care_/Patients and the families of patients living with a serious illness or health problem may find help dealing with their emotional, physical and spiritual concerns by turning to palliative care, according to The Joint Commission’s new educational campaign “Speak Up™: What you need to know about your s [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 10 Oct 2012 09:00:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//two_leading_health_care_quality_organizations_hold_national_summit_to_build_consensus_around_ways_to_minimize_overuse_of_five_treatments/The Joint Commission and the American Medical Association (AMA)-convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement (PCPI) hold National Summit on Overuse to build consensus around ways to minimize overuse of five treatments. Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniFri, 28 Sep 2012 09:49:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//joint_commission_annual_report_names_620_hospitals_as_‘top_performers_on_key_quality_measures’/“Improving America’s Hospitals: The Joint Commission Annual Report on Quality and Safety 2012,” includes 620 hospitals that are leading the way nationally in using evidence-based care processes closely linked to positive patient outcomes. Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 19 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//joint_commission_jcr_2012_home_care_exec_briefings/On October 10 and 11, The Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources (JCR) will host the 2012 Home Care Executive Briefings to provide home care leaders with information on meeting new and updated accreditation requirements. Held at the Joint Commission headquarters in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., t [...]Bret CoonsMon, 10 Sep 2012 10:21:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_and_jcr_announce_2013_board_reappointments_/The Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources have announced Board of Commissioners reappointments for 2013.Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniThu, 06 Sep 2012 09:59:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//joint_commission_american_heart_assn_american_stroke_association_launch_new_certification_comprehensive_stroke_centers/The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association announce the September 1, 2012 launch of their new Disease-Specific Care Advanced Certification Program for Comprehensive Stroke Centers. Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniTue, 04 Sep 2012 10:30:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_names_ronald_m_wyatt_md_medical_director_division_of_healthcare_improvement/The Joint Commission today announced the appointment of Ronald M. Wyatt, M.D., MHA, as the medical director in the Division of Healthcare Improvement. Dr. Wyatt will promote quality improvement and patient safety to internal and external stakeholders, work to influence public policy and legislation [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniThu, 30 Aug 2012 14:19:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//joint_commission_and_jcr_host_17th_annual_ahc_conf/Ambulatory health care leaders will gather this November 8-9, 2012, for the 17th Annual Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources (JCR) Ambulatory Care Conference to discover new ways of demonstrating quality of care to payers, regulatory agencies, and managed care organizations. The conferenc [...]Bret CoonsTue, 28 Aug 2012 08:20:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//lab_central_connect_portal/The Joint Commission announced the launch of Lab Central Connect™ for accredited laboratories. The portal is designed to help Joint Commission-accredited laboratories centralize storage of important survey-related documents, as well as improve safety and quality by helping to maintain continuous com [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniTue, 21 Aug 2012 09:58:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//sentinel_event_alert_safe_use_of_opioids_in_hospitals/Although hospital patients may need the strong pain relief that only opioids can provide, a Sentinel Event Alert issued today by The Joint Commission urges hospitals to take specific steps to prevent serious complications or even deaths from opioid use. Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 08 Aug 2012 09:31:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_and_jcr_present_the_2012_behavioral_health_care_conference/The Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources are hosting behavioral health leaders from across the country at the for the 9th Annual Behavioral Health Care Conference to discuss the continued integration of behavioral health into the American health care industry.Bret CoonsTue, 07 Aug 2012 15:34:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//oint_commission_jcr_present_annual_hospital_executive_briefings/The Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources are hosting hospital leaders from across the country at the Hospital Executive Briefings, which focus on Joint Commission hospital accreditation news as well as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) compliance issues for 2013.Bret CoonsMon, 23 Jul 2012 11:16:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//new_speak_up_video_patient_rights/Read up on the release of The Joint Commission's seventh episode in its animated Speak Up™ video series, “Speak Up: Know Your Rights.” This new video features the characters Mira, Dr. Pierce, Nurse Amy and Armando as they depict the rights every patient should expect from their care givers. Bret CoonsTue, 26 Jun 2012 09:30:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//cms_recognizes_the_joint_commissions_accreditation_of_clinical_labs/The Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has again granted The Joint Commission deeming authority for the accreditation of clinical laboratories under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniThu, 21 Jun 2012 09:35:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_taps_ann_scott_blouin_as_evp_of_customer_relations/The Joint Commission today announced the appointment of Ann Scott Blouin, Ph.D., R.N., FACHE, to the newly created position of Executive Vice President of Customer Relations, effective June 4, 2012.Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//real_world_lessons_presented_at_second_day_of_the_2012_international_high_reliability_organizing_conference_/Day two of the Fifth International High Reliability Organizing Conference opened with a morning plenary address from Kathleen Sutcliffe, Ph.D, professor of Management and Organization, University of Michigan Stephen Ross School of Business, on the topic of “Safety-Efficiency Tradeoffs: Lessons from [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 23 May 2012 14:01:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//first_day_of_the_2012_HRO_conference_off_to_an_exciting_start/Day one of the Fifth International High Reliability Organizing Conference opened with a keynote address from Mark R. Chassin, M.D. FACP, M.P.P., M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission, on the topic of “High Reliability Healthcare: What’s Holding Us Back?” The conference, organized by Strategic Reli [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniTue, 22 May 2012 10:51:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//new_monograph_central_line_associated_bloodstream_infections_clabsi/Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a serious form of health care-associated infections (HAIs), with a mortality rate of 12 to 25 percent in the United States alone. Reliable access to the bloodstream is one of the most essential components of modern medical care, but bloods [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 16 May 2012 11:51:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//jcr_and_the_joint_commission_announce_board_appointment_reappointments/Joint Commission Resources (JCR) announces the appointment of Sneh Khemka, MBChB, MRCOphth, medical director, Bupa International, and an expert in eye medicine and surgery, to its Board of Directors.Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 14 Mar 2012 09:13:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//new_safe_care_program_to_provide_patient_education/Encouraging patients and their families to take an active role in their health care by becoming involved and informed is critical. In celebration of Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 4-10, a unique patient safety education program will be released to provide patients and their families with insta [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 29 Feb 2012 08:52:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//the_joint_commission_awards_first_advanced_certifications_for_palliative_care/Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.; Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y.; Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York City; St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, Pontiac, Mich.; and The Connecticut Hospice, Inc. in Branford, Conn. have become the first hospitals across the country to receive Advanced Certificati [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniMon, 27 Feb 2012 08:57:00 GMThttp://www.jointcommission.org//speak_up_what_you_should_know_about_stroke/Knowing the early signs and risk factors for stroke and understanding that a stroke is a "brain attack" requiring immediate action can significantly improve a patient’s recovery and prevent future strokes, according to The Joint Commission's new Speak Up: "What You Should Know About Stroke" educati [...]Elizabeth Eaken ZhaniWed, 01 Feb 2012 08:20:00 GMT