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Joint Commission releases 2009 National Patient Safety Goals

Quality Improvement Monitor, June 20, 2008

The Joint Commission this week released the 2009 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) and their elements of performance. Also, The Joint Commission published a new system for numbering and referring to the goals, a move that The Joint Commission says was made to more easily sort electronic editions of the NPSGs, as well as to better allow for future goals.

The biggest changes include new requirements in the area of infection control. There are three new requirements that deal with healthcare-associated infections resulting from multiple drug-resistant organisms, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and surgical site infections. These requirements have a one-year phase in period during which facilities will be expected to meet quarterly deadlines, with full implementation expected by January 1, 2010.

Additional changes and new requirements can be found in the goals relating to improving patient identification, improving the safety of using medications, medication reconciliation, patients' involvement in their own care, responding to changes in a patient's condition, and the Universal Protocol.

For more information, click here.

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