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Another JCAHO imposter renews attention on surveyor identities

Hospital Safety Connection, April 18, 2006

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An unidentified woman posed as a surveyor from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) at a hospital in Wisconsin, according to an e-mail alert sent by the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) to its members last week.

The incident once again raises the issue of how facilities can confirm the identity of surveyors now that JCAHO visits are unannounced.

The woman in question wore a three-piece business suit and appeared professional, the WHA's e-mail said. When an employee asked if she needed assistance, she said she worked for the JCAHO and was looking around the building, but did not offer identification.

The employee suggested that they go to meet with the hospital's director. The suspect agreed, but said she first needed to get something from her car. She went to the parking lot and did not return.

The hospital contacted the JCAHO about the incident because they are anticipating a survey soon, but the commission said no surveyors were scheduled to be on site that day, according to the WHA.

Several similar incidents occurred last year throughout the country. Legitimate surveyors carry official identification and will provide it voluntarily when they arrive, the JCAHO says. Hospitals can also confirm this information the day of a survey on their online JCAHO extranet page.
 

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