JC & CMS News Blog Information
for Hospitals and Behavioral Healthcare
To read articles written prior to January 2015, please view our Newsletter Archive.
Culture of Safety: Now Part of your TJC Survey
Wondering how The Joint Commission’s emphasis on a culture of safety will impact your survey? We’re getting feedback on recent surveys and it’s clear this is a top priority for TJC.
TJC Survey Outcomes: Update on 2018 Trends
How do your TJC survey results compare with other behavioral health hospitals? Check out this data on 2018 survey outcomes to see how you stack up.
Treatment Planning in Behavioral Healthcare: Survey Challenges
“Oh, no! The surveyors cited us again for treatment planning.” It’s an all-too-common refrain following a Joint Commission or CMS survey. Sure, it's frustrating and, yes, there is surveyor variability. But if you tackle the the most common pitfalls, you'll definitely...
National Patient Safety Goal NPSG.15.01.01: Q&A on New Requirements
Is your organization ready for the revised NPSG.15.01.01 effective July 1, 2019? There are new and expanded requirements you’ll need to address.
SAFER Matrix: Update for Psychiatric Hospitals and BH Organizations
The Joint Commission’s SAFER matrix – that colorful grid displaying survey findings – we’ve all become accustomed to it. But how does it impact the survey process? And how is the scoring shaking out for psychiatric hospitals and behavioral health organizations? Let’s take a look.
Suicides in Hospitals: New Study Provides Data
Important data on suicides in hospitals now available! Read about the study and how TJC will move on its suicide reduction initiative in 2019.
CMS Complaint Survey Results on New Website
Be aware! CMS complaint survey results are now posted on their new website. CMS communicated this in their memo QSO-19-01 on October 4th. This means if CMS conducts a complaint survey at an accredited hospital, they will post their official report of findings (the “2567” report) on this website …
National Patient Safety Goal NPSG.15.01.01: Changes Coming in 2019
Suicide risk assessment continues to be a high focus area for The Joint Commission. Accordingly, TJC will further strengthen its approach to suicide risk reduction in 2019 and revise National Patient Safety Goal NPSG.15.01.01. As a result, the expanded NPSG.15.01.01 will require organizations to do the following …
CMS Validation Survey: New Process Being Piloted
At the Consultants Forum meeting in Chicago, Joint Commission COO Mark Pelletier announced an interesting new approach TJC and CMS are piloting. It’s a concurrent validation survey process. This means CMS surveyors conduct their CMS validation survey at the same time...
Joint Commission Complaint Reporting: Time to Change Your Public Notice
The Joint Commission has changed its process for complaint reporting. Effective September 1, a Joint Commission employee will no longer answer the complaint line at TJC's Office of Quality and Patient Safety. Instead, there will be an automated message. Over the...