Accreditation Newsletters

Briefings on Accreditation and Quality will help you with all of your accreditation and survey preparation needs. Every month, Briefings on Accreditation and Quality takes a look at problematic standards, identifies best practices, and clarifies the latest updates and changes from The Joint Commission, CMS, and other regulatory and accreditation organizations. Briefings on Accreditation and Quality also offers bonus content, tools, sample policies, and more online.

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Issue 12, December 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS releases proposed rule to 'cut red tape'

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Describe the goals of the proposed changes...

• Joint Commission makes life safety a priority

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Discuss Life Safety's place in the...

• A view from the top

  Editor's note: Joseph L. Cappiello was recently named chief operating officer for the Healthcare...

• Final rule pushes for equal hospital visitation and ­representation rights

  On April 15, 2010, President Obama issued a moving presidential memorandum on hospital visitation...

Issue 11, November 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Joint Commission reviews latest changes, looks to future

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Discuss health reform's role in hospital...

• Executive Briefings roundup: This year's most challenging standards

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Describe the most problematic EPs among the...

• A closer look at The Joint Commission's prepublication telemedicine requirements

  Shortly after CMS finalized a new rule on telemedicine credentialing, allowing hospitals to rely on...

• CMS telemedicine law and Interpretive Guidelines

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Identify standards and EPs related to...

• Former Joint Commission VP named COO of Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program

  Joseph L. Cappiello has been appointed chief operating officer (COO) of the Chicago-based...

Issue 10, October 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Tracer university: Preparing staff to maintain continual survey readiness

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Identify "generalist" areas where...

• Medical center achieves continuous readiness infrastructure

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Discuss methods for composing a chapter...

• CMS IV medication and blood transfusion education requirements

  Every hospital that receives reimbursement from Medicare or Medicaid must follow certain Conditions...

• New CMS survey guidance for hospitals reporting medication errors

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Describe how CMS defines circumstances for...

Issue 9, September 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• How are you using tracers? A 2011 update

    After reading this article, you will be able to: Describe how tracer data is being...

• Organization revamps wound care documentation policies and procedures

  Chronic wounds not only affect millions of patients, but they also represent a significant burden...

• Bedside matters: A new look at visiting hours

    The relationship between hospital and patient is changing, and this evolution has been...

Issue 8, August 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Achieve successful surveys through culture and training

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Discuss the benefits of low turnover rates...

• Second-generation tracers: One health system's ­experience with the latest tracer methodology

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Define second-generation tracer methodology...

• A firsthand look at the survey experience

  Editor's note: The following article was written by ­Christine Levy, RD, MBA, MHA, FACHE, CSHA...

• Surveyors continue to focus on sterilization, disinfection of medical equipment

  In the May issue of The Joint Commission Perspectives™, The Joint Commission lists top...

• AAAASF receives deeming authority for CMS OPT Medicare clinics

  CMS recently announced the approval of deeming authority for the American Association for...

Issue 7, July 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS announces revised telemedicine requirements

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Identify which standards will be affected...

• Joint Commission releases update to top standards ­compliance issues

  Each year, The Joint Commission unveils which standards were among the most cited by surveyors not...

• FMEAs: Using proactive analyses to stay ahead of the curve

  Let's say your hospital is looking at a construction project that will directly affect the location...

• Small increases mark slow year for survey coordinator salaries, annual benchmarking report finds

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Discuss changes in the role of the survey...

Issue 6, June 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Facility finds new ways to improve hand hygiene ­success rates

  Of all the challenges U.S. hospitals face, few are as unifying as hand hygiene-extremely important...

• Suicide risk: Solutions to rapid assessment and documentation

  In November 2010, The Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Event Alert requiring all hospitals to...

• Healthcare and the rich and famous: How the elite impact care

  Editor's note: This feature examines Joint Commission standards in greater detail with expert...

Issue 5, May 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Data reporting: Ensuring information rises to the top

  The best of hospital leadership take an active ­interest and role in safety and quality at...

• Hospital weathers five simultaneous Disease-Specific Certification surveys (Part 2)

  Editor's note: Below is the conclusion of our article from the April edition of BOJ on the recent...

• Turning Joint Commission survey preparation into a treat

  One of the ongoing challenges for Joint Commission survey coordinators is also one of the most...

• Disaster planning: What we can learn from recent events

   As this article is going to print, a disaster of unbelievable proportions is unfolding in...

Issue 4, April 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Managing contracted services: A focus on accountability and quality

  After reading this article, you will be able to:

• Hospital learns to weather five simultaneous Disease-Specific Certification surveys

  After reading this article, you will be able to:

• CMS and a side-by-side comparison of accreditation organizations

  After reading this article, you will be able to:

Issue 3, March 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Building a better PPR team

  After reading this article, you will be able to: Describe the basic makeup of a PPR team...

• Communicating heart health education to staff

  Shelley Lockard, RN, BSN, physician marketing coordinator at Indiana (PA) Regional Medical Center...

• Meeting the new medication reconciliation requirements

  After reading this article, you will be able to:  Describe changes to The Joint...

• AHAP benchmarking report looks at the latest medical staff and credentialing challenges

  Based on the Association for Healthcare Accreditation Professionals’ (AHAP) recent working...

Issue 2, February 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Health system uses Survey Activity Guide to build readiness program

  After reading this article, you will be able to:  Describe methods on how to...

• Standard readiness: Targeting patient-provider communication

  Are you questioning your readiness for the recently approved Joint Commission patient-provider...

• Nondiscrimination in healthcare

  Think back to the last time you sought medical care. You went to a healthcare facility trusting...

Issue 1, January 1, 2011 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Move to electronic policies and procedures streamlines organization

  Sometimes it takes a spark to bring about a large, important change in an organization. For St...

• Having confidence in your contractors' performance

  As consultants, we still see citations issued to hospitals for failure to adequately monitor...

• Taking training on the road: Nurses take evidence-based research improvements to Africa

  Sometimes the lessons learned when working to improve nursing education and empowerment are truly...

• Nursing documentation tips and challenges

  When it comes to nursing documentation, a few areas tend to trip up organizations, requiring them...