Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on June 21, announced that there is still time to comment on its proposed new Infection Control (IC) chapter requirements for hospitals and critical access hospitals. The goal of revising the chapter is to align the IC standards and elements of performance more closely with…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced on June 21 that it is seeking comments on its proposed new Emergency Management (EM) requirements for accredited ambulatory health care and office-based surgery programs. The new requirements, which will be released in July 2024, will help organizations develop and improve their actions and…

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Editor's Note National Time Out Day on June 14 renews attention on the surgical team to prevent wrong-site surgery by pausing before a surgical procedure begins to make sure it is the right site, right procedure, and right person, a June 7 joint statement by The Joint Commission and AORN…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission and National Quality Forum (NQF) announced, on June 12, that they are now accepting applications for the 2023 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards, through August 7. The annual Awards, which recognize major achievements by individuals and organizations that use innovative approaches to…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on June 7, announced that the deadline for acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, and freestanding psychiatric hospitals to submit CY 2022 performance measure data via the Direct Data Submission Platform (DDSP) is June 14. This data must be submitted to meet the ORYX performance…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on June 7, announced that it has added new resources to its Health Care Equity Certification Resource Center, including those from NorthShore-Edward-Elmhurst Health in northeastern Illinois, Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, and HealthPartners headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Joint Commission regularly updates its Health Care…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on May 31, announced that it has added several new and revised elements of performance (EPs) for critical access hospitals (CAHs) that address restraint and seclusion, the complaint process, and unified and integrated structures for CAHs that are part of a multihospital system, effective June…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on May 31, announced an update to the Leadership (LD) requirement addressing ethical issues, effective August 27. Element of Performance (EP) 1 of the standard LD.04.02.03—Ethical principles guide the [organization’s] business practices—now states: “The [organization] develops and implements a process that allows staff, [patients], and…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on May 24, announced that it is seeking comments on new infection control (IC) requirements for hospitals and critical access hospitals on preparedness for high-consequence diseases or special pathogens. These new requirements will replace the current standard IC.01.06.01 on preparing for an influx of potentially…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on May 24, announced that it was eliminating the term licensed independent practitioner from its Ambulatory Health Care and Office-Based Surgery accreditation programs, beginning August 27. The revisions are consistent with terminology used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Conditions for Coverage and…

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