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Understand similarities, differences between CMS CoPs and Joint Commission standards in 2009

HIM Connection, February 10, 2009

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Anyone involved in healthcare—from CEOs to frontline staff members—dread hearing, "We’re here to do an unannounced site visit of your facility." On any given day of the week, unexpected surveyors who say these words can cause anxiety, stress, and anguish in even the best run organizations.

Such surveys will determine whether your healthcare facility meets regulatory requirements, of which there are several sets. These sets of requirements have evolved over the past 20 years, and the main theme for 2009 is change…and lots of it. Both CMS and The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) have made significant changes to their requirements.

But the fact remains that all healthcare organizations will undergo some type of survey at some point in time. The key in 2009 is to understand and educate staff members about the changes, and at the same time, remain flexible to manage the changes and processes. Many similarities exist between CMS and The Joint Commission. Hopefully by understanding these similarities, ongoing survey preparation can be efficient and can help your organization achieve excellent results. After all, the goal of participants—the hospital, the regulatory agency, and the patient—is high-quality care and service that meets and exceeds standards and expectations.

Editor’s note: For more information on how The Joint Commission standards compare with the CMS Conditions of Participation, including a side-by-side comparison of the two, purchase a copy of HCPro’s book The CMS-Joint Commission Crosswalk, 2009 Edition.

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