Lab, suicide tracers part of hospital surveys in 2007
Briefings on The Joint Commission, December 1, 2006
This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login or subscribe to Briefings on The Joint Commission.
After reading this article, you will be able to
1. define the purpose of program-specific tracers
2. describe the goal of program-specific tracers
3. ame the two program-specific tracers for hospitals
An important survey process change that takes effect January 1 was unexpectedly announced by the JCAHO in November, leaving organizations with little time to prepare for or learn more about the change.
The JCAHO announced in its monthly Perspectives newsletter, which all accredited organizations receive, that it is implementing "program-specific tracers" for its hospital, ambulatory, home care, behavioral healthcare, critical-access hospital, and long-term care accreditation programs.
The purpose of the new tracers is "to better address the unique characteristics and relevant issues of the organizations in these programs," according to the JCAHO. The article also included a grid outlining applicability requirements and objectives for each new tracer in each setting.
For hospitals, there are two new tracers: lab integration and suicide. These are in addition to the regular, individual patient tracers that surveyors already conduct, plus system tracers (e.g., data, medication), and the emergency management tracer added in 2006.
The goal of program-specific tracers is "to identify safety concerns within different levels and types of care," according to the JCAHO. They will bring "focus on important issues relevant to" information (e.g., your priority focus areas and CMS requirements). They'll also "evaluate program-specific issues and compliance with relevant standards that impact patient safety."
This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login or subscribe to Briefings on The Joint Commission.
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