The Joint Commission adds safety briefing to accreditation surveys

Editor's Note

The Joint Commission on November 2 announced that it has added safety briefings to all accreditation surveys as well as certification and verification reviews, effective January 1, 2023.

The informal, 5-minute briefing allows organizations to tell surveyors and reviewers about any potential safety concerns and how they should respond if the safety plans are implemented while they are on-site. The briefing also will be incorporated into the first day of surveys or reviews.

Topics an organization should be prepared to discuss during the briefing are:

• Fire, smoke, or other emergencies
• Workplace violence, including active shooter scenarios
• Specific issues the surveyors or reviewers may encounter while on-site.