JCAHO revises scoring for patient safety goal
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has changed how it scores organizations on its National Patient Safety Goal to eliminate wrong-site, wrong-patient, wrong-procedure surgery. The goal includes a recommendation that organizations implement a process to mark the surgical site and involve the patient in the marking process.
The Joint Commission said it will continue to require organizations to mark surgical sites involving right/left distinction, multiple structures (such as fingers and toes), or levels (such as the spine) to comply with the recommendation.
However, it no longer will require the surgical site to be marked for other types of procedures, including midline sternotomies for open-heart surgery, cesareans, laparotomy, and laparoscopy, and interventional procedures for which the site of insertion is not predetermined, such as cardiac catheterization procedures. The Joint Commission plans to provide details on the change soon at its web site, at www.jcaho.org. Click on "National Patient Safety Goals & FAQs."
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has changed how it scores organizations on its National Patient Safety Goal to eliminate wrong-site, wrong-patient, wrong-procedure surgery.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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