Be prepared! Joint Commission surveys are getting back on schedule. The pandemic is easing up in many counties across the country. As a result, TJC is catching up on surveys.
Joint Commission Surveys: Current Status
TJC is catching up on triennial surveys in all programs including the Hospital Accreditation Program and the Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program. Indeed, they plan to be caught up by the end of 2022.
TJC still uses COVID data as input for scheduling. However, TJC now focuses on hospitalization rates, not the COVID positivity rate. Currently, over 99% of counties are a “Go” for survey scheduling.
Many (but not all) of our clients are getting back on schedule for their triennial surveys. Recently, two clients had “early” surveys – three and four months ahead of their triennial surveys.
On the other hand, we have some hospital clients who are overdue for their 45 day Medicare Deficiency surveys or Follow-up surveys. On a related note, CMS is requiring that once the Public Health Emergency ends, the Accrediting Organizations (like TJC) must catch up within nine months.
New Surveyors
TJC hired 130 new surveyors in 2021; 45 so far in 2022. They’re having difficulty hiring Life Safety surveyors in the Hospital program.
As a result, TJC is sometimes “staging” surveys. First, the clinical team completes its survey. Then, the Life Safety surveyor may come a few weeks later and complete that survey. TJC doesn’t publish the report until the Life Safety survey is complete.
Onsite and Offsite Joint Commission Surveys
The Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program is currently scheduling both onsite and offsite surveys. Ultimately, they plan to return to all onsite surveys.
Offsite surveys have phased out in the Hospital Program. There were two in January and none since then.
If your organization will have a virtual survey, be sure you master the technology challenges. For more info on that topic, see our recent post Virtual Surveys Continue for BH Organizations.
Be Aware: Future Survey Scheduling
One very important note re how TJC will calculate your future triennial survey due date: If your triennial survey was late due to the pandemic, your next triennial due date reverts back to your original pre-pandemic due date.
For example, if your organization was due in July 2020 but your survey occurred in February 2021, your next triennial survey will be due by July 2023. TJC has notified all affected organizations about this.
As a result, there may no longer be that three year window between your surveys. So, continuous readiness is as important than ever.
Barrins & Associates Consultation
We continue to conduct our Mock Surveys and Continuous Readiness Consultations both virtually and onsite.
Whether virtual or onsite, we’re prepared to support your ongoing compliance and survey readiness as we move forward in 2022.