DNV Healthcare's bid to become the first new accreditation organization for hospitals in the United States in more than 40 years has taken another step forward: CMS has announced that DNV's application for deeming authority has been accepted. The company would join only two other organizations, The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) and the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, as groups with deeming authority from CMS to accredit hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Editor's note: Patton is the former Joint Commission executive director of accreditation services and principal of Patton Healthcare Consulting, LLC, in Glendale, AZ. To ask him a question, e-mail Matt Phillion at mphillion@hcpro.com and look for the answer in an upcoming issue.

When Susan Carvalho, RN, BSN, took over as director of quality and Joint Commission coordinator at Memorial Hospital Miramar (MHM) in Florida, she encountered a trial by fire: three surveys in four months. Carvalho moved into the role from within the quality management department in October 2006. In November 2007, The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) arrived for the facility's unannounced lab survey. One month later,

Virtually every facility has its own way of managing the reporting of critical test results (CTR). With the 2008 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) now including requirement 2C, which addresses improved CTR communication, hospitals are looking for practical and effective ways to secure proper CTR reporting. Geri Pyle, RN, MS, a healthcare consultant in Palm Springs, CA, and a member of the BOJ advisory board, says there is a direct link between the related delay in treatment associated with sentinel events and CTR.

Educating staff members in every department about the National Patient Safety Goals allows for greater involvement and success when preparing for a survey. And Ruth Rankin plans to build hospitalwide awareness following her facility's recent survey. "You can't depend on one person," says Rankin, director of risk and quality management at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System (SBLHS) in Mattoon, IL.

Editor's note: Sue Dill Calloway, RN, MSN, JD, director of hospital risk management for OHIC Insurance Company, The Doctor's Company, in Columbus, OH, is the CMS corner lead contributor. Submit a topic idea to her by contacting BOJ Editor Matt Phillion at mphillion@hcpro.com. There seems to be a lot of questions regarding CMS and recent changes to H&Ps. This column will address the changes and clear up any confusion.