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Whip your competency assessment program into shape

Ambulatory Safety Monitor, January 28, 2003

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Struggling with competency assessment is not unique to ambulatory care. HR.5 was the third most problematic JCAHO standard for ambulatory organizations for the first half of 2002, with 16% of organizations receiving a poor score in this area. This same standard is a perennial trouble spot for your hospital colleagues.

TIP: Create an assessment schedule

Keep your competencies realistic and identify the most important skills particular to your setting, although you can't control requirements such as those mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), McLane says.

Start the competency assessment during orientation so you know where a new staff member comes from and what they know. Assign your competencies based around their skills. Then, check in on competencies during the annual performance review. It's also a good idea to cross train staff so they're familiar with different areas within the facility. Periodically identify staff members' potential weaknesses. Hold additional competency training as needed.

Always evaluate staff competence in the following regulatory areas:

• OSHA standards
• Bloodborne pathogen exposure
• Handling hazardous chemicals
• Diversity, such as providing interpreters
• Sexual harassment policies, since staff must know that they can report offenses and through what channels
• Corporate compliance, since the government expects ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) to create corporate compliance plans
• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

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