George Mills is leaving The Joint Commission

The Joint Commission confirmed Thursday afternoon that a key figure in standards interpretation for the healthcare accrediting organization will be departing this fall.

George Mills, MBA, FASHE, CEM, CHFM, CHSP, who has served as director of the organization’s engineering department for the past six years, will leave his post effective October 9. Mills has been with The Joint Commission for 14 years.

“During his tenure he has served as an advocate for healthcare organizations as they strive to improve the quality and safety of their physical environments,” a spokesperson for The Joint Commission said in an email.

The confirmation came after HCPro’s resident hospital safety expert, Steve MacArthur, safety consultant for The Greeley Company, blogged Thursday on murmurings of an impending Mills exit. The Joint Commission also confirmed MacArthur’s report that John D. Maurer, SASHE, CHFM, CHSP, will take over as acting director of engineering on an interim basis.

“I don’t anticipate that this will engender a significant change in how business will be conducted, including the practical administration of the Life Safety portion of the accreditation survey process,” MacArthur wrote, noting that he has always found Maurer to be “thoughtful, helpful, and equitable.”

Beginning October 9, Maurer will serve as acting director while a search for Mills’ successor is undertaken, the spokesperson said. Mills declined Thursday to comment on his forthcoming departure, and Maurer could not be reached.