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JCAHO refutes AHA criticism regarding use of patient-level data

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, November 17, 2005

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The JCAHO released a statement rebutting the American Hospital Association's (AHA) criticism that the Joint Commission would become a "purveyor of performance analysis" and intended to use patient-level information for purposes unrelated to accreditation.

"The Joint Commission is not an information company and intends to remain focused on its mission to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care," the JCAHO stated in a written release. The Joint Commission carefully monitors all HIPAA requirements and is absolutely committed to protecting patient privacy.   Current Joint Commission uses of aggregate performance data are not in violation of HIPAA requirements. No patient-level data would ever be released to third parties, and patient-level data would be de-identified before it was ever used for research or other purposes not related to accreditation."

The JCAHO refuted concerns that patient-level data would be used for anything other than to improve the accuracy and completeness of data collection and none of the patient data would be released at any time to third-parties.

For a point by point rebuttal from the JCAHO, visit their web site at http://www.jcaho.org/news+room/news+release+archives/aha_rebuttal_111105.htm.

The AHA's statement can be found on here: http://www.hospitalconnect.com/hospitalconnect/mainstories/MA_051108_JCAHO.html.

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