New Hospital Standards for Patient Safety

New standards designed to prevent medical errors and improve patient safety have been issued by the U.S. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. These new standards represent requirements for establishing ongoing patient safety programs in hospitals and other health care organizations.

Hospital leaders are to create an environment that encourages error identification and remedial steps to reduce the likelihood of future, recurring errors. Such an environment includes minimization of individual blame or retribution for those involved in an error or in reporting an error. Hospitals are to implement a program for the assessment of high-risk activities related to patient safety before errors have occurred and to undertake appropriate improvements.

Hospitals are to aggregate patient safety-related data and information to identify risks to patients, apply knowledge-based information to reduce these risks, and communicate that information among all caregivers to guide and improve professional and organizational performance.

Hospitals are to place appropriate emphasis on patient safety in areas such as patient rights, education of patients and their families, continuity of care, and management of human resources. The patient and/or the patient's family should be informed about the results of care, including unanticipated outcomes.

In developing the standards, the Joint Commission sought advice from a special expert panel that included patient safety and medical/health care error-reduction leaders, as well as representatives from government, hospitals, insurance companies, universities, and advocacy groups. The Joint Commission was formed to improve the safety and quality of health care through the accreditation of health care organizations and programs. Member organizations include the American College of Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, and American Hospital Association.



Related Links:
U.S. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations