TJC & CMS News Blog Information
for Hospitals and Behavioral Healthcare
To read articles written prior to January 2015, please view our Newsletter Archive.
Joint Commission Flu Vaccination Requirements: 90% Goal Eliminated
The Joint Commission recently announced elimination of the requirement for a 90% flu vaccination goal effective January 1, 2021. Currently, Infection Control standard IC.02.04.01 Element of Performance # 5 requires organizations to …
Joint Commission Credentialing & Privileging Tracer: Focus for 2021
As we head into 2021, watch for a more consistent surveyor approach to the Joint Commission Credentialing & Privileging Tracer. In the past, this session has been somewhat surveyor dependent and, thus, has varied in its level of scrutiny. Seems...
Joint Commission Heads-Up Reports: A Valuable Tool
There’s a valuable resource you should know about on your TJC Connect extranet site. It’s the Joint Commission Heads-Up Report. You'll find it under the Resources & Tools section. Joint Commission Heads-Up Reports TJC produces these reports quarterly for all...
Onsite Joint Commission Surveys Resuming
Some of our clients are “back in the saddle again” in terms of onsite Joint Commission surveys. For example, we had several clients undergo their onsite triennial surveys last month. So, what are surveys like these days in light of the COVID-19 reality? We got some...
Virtual Joint Commission Surveys: How They Work
Have you heard about virtual Joint Commission surveys? TJC began conducting these a few months ago. They’re currently limited to hospitals applying for initial CMS deemed status and opioid treatment programs. So, what does a virtual survey process look like?
CMS Gives TJC 2 Year Deemed Status Approval
News Flash: CMS recently granted The Joint Commission only a two year approval for its authority to conduct deemed status surveys for hospitals. The last approval was for six years. So, what’s behind this shorter approval period?
Behavioral Health Tracers: Joint Commission 2020 Survey Update
Wondering what types of behavioral health tracers The Joint Commission is conducting as they resume surveys? By “behavioral health tracers” we mean the tracers done in psychiatric hospitals, behavioral health organizations, and psychiatric units of med/surg hospitals....
Joint Commission Standards: New Substance Use Treatment Requirements
Heads up! Does your organization provide treatment to individuals with addictions? If so, the new Joint Commission standards for substance use disorder treatment apply to you. The new requirements became effective July 1st in the Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program. They’re applicable to organizations providing care, treatment, or services to individuals with addictions.
We queried the TJC Standards Interpretation Group to determine …
Joint Commission Surveys Resume: Update on the Rollout
As we know, regular Joint Commission surveys resumed in June. So, how’s that going? TJC recently provided an update to our Consultants Forum group. Here’s some important info they shared. Surveys Targeted to Low Risk Areas Currently, TJC is scheduling surveys in...
Joint Commission Surveys: Infection Control Focus
As we know, regular Joint Commission surveys are resuming in June. Thus, as you ramp up your survey readiness, it’s important to focus on areas that will be a high priority for TJC. Clearly, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, infection control will be one of those high priority areas. TJC Behavioral Health leadership confirmed this during the recent COVID-19 Webinar Q & A for Behavioral Health Care. So, what can you do to be survey-ready in this area?