Accreditation

Unannounced survey monitor: Hospital lives and learns through mistakes

Briefings on The Joint Commission, July 1, 2009

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In January 2006, Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape and Islands (RHCI) in East Sandwich, MA, had such a successful survey that staff members were confident the next unannounced Joint Commission survey would be roughly three years later, the maximum amount of time The Joint Commission generally waits between surveys.
And they were right almost to the day. Two nurse surveyors, a rehab specialist, and a life safety surveyor arrived at RHCI January 20 and stayed until January 23.
Despite the confidence this 60-bed acute rehabilitation hospital had coming off its previous survey, Ellen Draper, director of quality and risk management, and other staff members at RHCI had their work cut out for them during the next three and a half days.

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