JCAHO: Changes Should Lessen Liability Risk
JCAHO: Changes Should Lessen Liability Risk
In a response to the concerns of risk managers who fear the sentinel event policy will greatly increase their liability risks, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, is promising to work with health care providers to lessen that risk.
A JCAHO position statement provided to Healthcare Risk Management says the organization expects the recent changes in the sentinel event policy to reduce liability risks, but it also says the following: "We understand that there may well be legal challenges and that no particular outcome can be guaranteed in a specific instance. The Joint Commission would there- fore like to make clear its definite commitment to resist the disclosure of this confidential information.
"Specifically, the Joint Commission will not disclose sentinel-event related information to any third party and will vigorously defend the confidentiality of this information, if necessary, in the courts. If subpoenaed for sentinel event-related information, the Joint Commission will not release this information, and again, after notifying the health care organization, will vigorously defend its position in the courts."
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