As we approach Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, the desire to bring cheer and decorate the healthcare environment is natural. However, a bit like Scrooge and the Grinch, infections and fire hazards don’t recognize holidays. Nor do The Joint Commission (TJC) and CMS let healthcare staff...
On January 1, 2025, the new workplace violence (WPV) prevention standards for home health agencies will go into effect for facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. Some of the requirements that will go into effect include creating a formal definition of WPV, outlining leadership oversight...
In May, the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) introduced its revised Long-Term Care Dialysis (LTCD) Certification, offering a new level of recognition for providers delivering dialysis services in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. This certification is available to all...
This is part two of our interview with Kurt Patton, MS, RPH, founder of Patton Healthcare Consulting and a former director of accreditation services for The Joint Commission (TJC), on conducting mock or preparatory surveys.
Conducting mock surveys, also called preparatory surveys, is a great way to ready your staff and find problems before the real thing comes to your facility. But how do you run an effective preparatory survey—one that mimics the real deal with the time and resources your healthcare organization...
The Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC) announced the release of its revised manuals for Stroke Care Certification in May. These updates are designed to reflect the latest standards of practice, improve clarity, enhance flow, and reduce redundancy. The revisions also offer...
Looking back on what was new and announced by The Joint Commission (TJC) and CMS during this year so far, there is a laundry list as usual. Among others, Kurt Patton, MS, RPh, founder and president emeritus of Patton Healthcare Consulting, cites two particular developments.
We continue our conversation with Jennifer Cowel, RN, MHSA, president of Patton Healthcare Consulting and Barrins & Associates and a former Joint Commission nurse surveyor and director of service operations, about the apparent increase in the number of adverse outcomes and complaint surveys...
The only thing less enjoyable than a complaint survey is a second complaint survey for the same issue. IAQ spoke with Jennifer Cowel, RN, MHSA, president of Patton Healthcare Consulting and Barrins & Associates and a former Joint Commission nurse surveyor and director of service operations,...
Clinics in rural and underserved communities can now apply for The Joint Commission’s (TJC) new Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Accreditation Program as of July 1. The program aims to help organizations improve the safety and quality of primary care and personal health services provided to those...
