TJC & CMS News Blog Information
for Hospitals and Behavioral Healthcare
To read articles written prior to January 2015, please view our Newsletter Archive.
No More Complimentary Standards Manuals
Be aware that effective January 2014 TJC will no longer be mailing complimentary hard copies of the standards manuals and standards updates to accredited organizations. Standards manuals and standards updates will be available to accredited organizations via E-dition...
Suicide Risk Assessment: Patient Bathrooms
During surveys of inpatient psychiatric units (and sometimes in residential programs) TJC surveyors continue to cite suicide risks they identify in the environment. Commonly occurring issues are plastic trash can liners, loopable hardware in bedrooms and bathrooms,...
Competence Assessment by a Qualified Individual
There is a standard tucked into the TJC Human Resources chapter that seems innocuous at first reading but frequently causes challenges on surveys. The standard is HR.01.06.01 Element of Performance # 3 in both the Behavioral Health and Hospital manuals: "Staff with...
Clarification: Current TJC Requirements for FMEAs
For several years, there was a requirement in the TJC standards for organizations to conduct an annual proactive risk assessment referred to as a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). The requirements for proactive risk assessment have evolved over the past few...