Joint Commission accreditation is a key predictor in the implementation of systems that promote patient safety by hospitals, according to a new study published in the May/June 2007 issue of the Journal of Healthcare Management.
Patient safety initiatives outlined in the report include computerized physician order entry systems, computerized test results, assessment of adverse events, use of data in patient safety programs, specific patient safety policies, handling adverse event/error reporting, root cause analysis, and medication management, says the Joint Commission.
The study found that accreditation by the Joint Commission was the most significant factor in whether facilities engaged in actions widely recognized to improve patient safety, contends the Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Commission.
