JCAHO hospital standards reduced to 225 from 508
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has slashed the number of standards in the 2004 hospital accreditation program from 508 to 225 as part of the agency’s Shared Visions, New Pathways initiative. Agency officials have said the initiative is intended to streamline standards and focus the Joint Commission survey on operations and systems that directly affect patient safety and quality.
The requirements for 2004 essentially are the same, officials say, but they note that some "elements of performance" that existed in one accreditation manual may now be applicable across all manuals. In addition, the new format integrates the assessment, care, education, and continuum of care chapters into a single chapter.
Health care personnel may review the new standards, along with a comparison to the current standards, by going to www.jcaho.org and clicking on "2004 Pre-Publication Standards Now Available."