Corporate Compliance

Joint Commission offers recommendations for "hospitals of the future"

Healthcare Auditing Weekly, November 25, 2008

The Joint Commission released a report November 20 presenting guidance for hospitals to use in what is seen as a challenging time for healthcare in the United States.
 
Hospitals must find new, effective ways to respond to record high healthcare costs, older, sicker patients, and an increased focus on patient safety and quality of care, according to a news release from the Joint Commission.
 
In its report, “Health Care at the Crossroads: Guiding Principles for the Development of the Hospital of the Future,” the Joint Commission outlines actions hospitals should take in five core areas:
 
Economic viability – While many hospitals remain profitable in the most trying of economic times, others are struggling due to an aging population and decreased employer-sponsored insurance.
 
Technology adoption – information technology gives hospitals the potential to redefine themselves, improve care quality and safety, and support the migration of hospital-based care into the community.
 
Patient-centered care – hospitals need to make patient-centered care values a priority for improving patient safety and satisfaction. According to the news release, hospitals should respect patients as equal partners in their care.
 
Staffing – staff shortages have plagued hospitals for several years. The report recommends hospitals address this problem in a number of ways, including creating workplace cultures that attract and retain workers.

Hospital design – hundreds of studies show hospital design characteristics that work for improving patient safety and healthcare outcomes. The Joint Commission lists several actions hospitals can take to make their facility “safe by design.” These include addressing high-level priorities, like infection control and emergency preparedness in hospital design and construction.

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