Every month, Briefings on The Joint Commission brings you the latest news in Joint Commission survey preparation, standards interpretation, and best practices, as well as CMS and other hospital accred...

In October 2008, staff members at Riverside Methodist Hospital (RMH) in Columbus, OH, approached Sheryl Tripp, MSN, RN-BC, nurse manager for the gynecology/gynecology-oncology (gyn/gyn-onc) surgical u...

According to The Joint Commission’s annual report, the US has seen a steady improvement over the past seven years in patient care quality, the organization said in an official announcement this ...

True or false: One of the first steps in a falls reduction program is an accurate assessment of each patient’s fall risk....

True or false: Informed consent includes information on the risks and hazards of a particular treatment, the alternatives or options available to the patient, the risks and hazards of the alternatives...

The Joint Commission has announced the field review of its revised medication reconciliation requirement, which it has designated as National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) 03.07.01....

In a year that saw budgets cut, travel expenses slashed, and jobs lost, it is unsurprising to report that 2009 did not see major increases in salary for accreditation specialists and survey coordinato...

One of the most vital parts of providing adequate healthcare is the exchange of information between patient and caregiver. Without clear communication, it can be difficult, and even dangerous, to trea...

Since 2002, the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) has sponsored Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) as a means of making caregivers, other types of hospital staff, and community members more ...

Now that the public has had a few days to review the interim staffing effectiveness standards for 2010, what are your thoughts? Are they reasonable? Were you anticipating interim standards while The J...