JCAHO approves 2003 National Patient Safety Goals

     The Joint Commission's Board of Commissioners has approved 2003 National Patient Safety Goals set for implementation January 1, 2003.  Six goals outline eleven recommendations for improving the safety of patient care in health care organizations.  Eight of the eleven recommendations focus on long term care settings, however, each organization should review all of the goals and associated recommendations in order to determine applicability to the services provided.  The recommendations were developed by the Sentinel Event Alert Advisory Group through an intensive process of review of all past Alert recommendations published by the JCAHO.
    The following briefly outlines the 2003 National Patient Safety Goals. For more complete information visit the JCAHO Web site at: www.jcaho.org/accredited+organizations/long+term+care/ltc+update/2002issue2/npsg.htm