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Heads up on Joint Commission news

Infection Control Weekly Monitor, January 7, 2009

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This week The Joint Commission changed one of its infection control (IC) standards for 2009, clarifying the responsibilities of the person responsible for the hospital’s IC program. The change is part of a series of revisions as the accreditor prepares to submit its application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for continued deeming authority for hospitals.

The change is to the element of performance (EP) for standard IC.01.01.01, which requires hospitals identify the individual or individuals responsible for the IC program. For hospitals that use Joint Commission accreditation for deemed status purposes (in other words, to demonstrate compliance with CMS’ Conditions of Participation) the individual with clinical authority over the IC program is responsible for the following:

• Developing and implementing policies governing control of infections and communicable diseases

• Developing a system for identifying, reporting, investigating, and controlling infections and communicable diseases

• Maintaining a log of incidents related to infections and communicable diseases

Click here for more on the changes to the standards.

In good news for hospitals, the Joint Commission also announced in its Joint Commission Online December bulletin that there will be no new National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) developed for 2010. Instead, over the next year, the Joint Commission will review and update current NSPGs, including numerous IC-related issues. To read more, click here.

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