• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

JCAHO announces implementation expectations for '06 Goals

Accreditation Connection, July 4, 2005

The JCAHO has posted implementation expectations for the 2006 National Patient Safety Goals on its Web site, www.jcaho.org.

Organizations must implement two new goals by January on "hand-offs" and labeling medication containers. The JCAHO's list of expectations includes the following:

• 2E-Hand-off communications:
• The opportunity exists for questioning between giver and receiver of information
• Hand-off information includes up-to-date information
• Limit interruptions during hand-offs
• Hand-offs must include verification of information, such as read-back
• Receiver of hand-off has opportunity to review information
• 3D-Labeling medication containers:
• Medications include any prescriptions; samples; herbals; vitamins; nutriceuticals; over-the-counter drugs;  vaccines; diagnostic and contrast agents used on or administered to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease or other abnormal conditions; radioactive medications; respiratory therapy treatments; parenteral nutrition; blood derivatives; intravenous solutions (plain, with electrolytes, and/or drugs), and any product designated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a drug. Solutions include chemicals and reagents such as formaline, saline, sterile water, Lugol's solution, radiopaque dyes, glutaraldehyde, and chlorhexidine.
• Label medications and solutions on and off the sterile field
• Label when the medication or solution has moved for the original packaging to another container
• Labels must include name, strength of the medication or solution, date, and initials of the preparer
• Two individuals must verify labels verbally and visually
• Discard medications or solutions without labels
• Make original containers available for reference in the perioperative area. Discard them once the procedure is over
• At shift change or break, entering and exiting personnel must review all medications and solutions on and off the sterile field
• The facility can develop labels or purchase them

To read the full list of implementation expectations, click here.

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive