Editor’s Note: Click the PDF button above for a full edition of the December 2017 edition of Briefings on Accreditation and Quality
Joint Commission elaborates on accreditation reports, suicide risks, and toilet seats
The 2017 Chicago session of The Joint Commission’s annual Executive Briefings saw a far-ranging discussion on the future of accreditation. Attendees from around the country came and listened to the latest news on risk assessments, the SAFER Matrix, documentation, and suicide prevention.
Test your knowledge of the new emergency prep CoPs
CMS is offering providers a version of its online training for surveyors on the new emergency preparedness Conditions of Participation (CoP), set to go into effect November 15. Use this test—taken from the course material—to see how well you do before and after taking the training.
Being compliant isn’t hard when you have a library card
Starting on January 1, 2018, healthcare organizations will need to create and maintain an accessible library of service manuals, instructions for use, technical bulletins, and other information manufacturers provide, and keep it as rigorously updated as other required documentation of tests, inspections, and maintenance.
Bringing innovation to your facility
Taking a good idea for your own seems like it ought to be simple. But in reality, many facilities struggle to adopt new innovations—or worse, they give up on ideas they didn’t come up with themselves. So how do you go about taking someone else’s innovation and incorporating it at your facility? How do you get staff and leadership to buy into a new way of doing things?
Joint Commission updates EM standards to match CMS
In response to CMS’ final emergency preparedness rule issued earlier this month, The Joint Commission announced revisions to its Emergency Management (EM) standards. CMS is expected to approve the updated standards before they go into effect November 15.
USP deadline on hazardous drug handling postponed until 2019
The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) has announced it intends to push back the compliance deadline for USP Chapter <800> “Hazardous Drugs; Handling in Healthcare Settings” from July 1, 2018, to December 1, 2019.