JCAHO releases draft goals and requirements for patient safety

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations this week released for review a list of draft goals and requirements, from which 2006 National Patient Safety Goals will be chosen. The National Patient Safety Goals, which are updated annually, are designed to require health care organizations to protect patients from the negative impact of specific health care errors. The draft goals include requiring organizations to achieve and maintain an organization-wide culture of safety, encourage patients' active involvement in their own care, and prevent patient harm associated with health care worker fatigue.

Other possible setting-specific goals include:

• preventing health care associated decubitus ulcers
• reducing the risk of harm associated with emotional and behavioral crisis
• reducing the risk of harm from abuse or exploitation in the health care organization
• ensure the safety of assisted living facility residents with dementia and other mental health disorders

The full text of the potential goals on the list are posted on the Joint Commission website, (see Field Reviews), and has been distributed for comment to health care professionals, providers, consumers and other stakeholders. The deadline for feedback is Friday, February 25, 2005.