TJC Makes Changes to Ambulatory Center Survey

The Joint Commission has made changes to its ambulatory center deemed status survey process to align with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Conditions of Participation. The changes include:

• Additional credentials file review for physicians
• Additional review of licensed non-physician practitioner personnel files
• Completion of Infection Control Worksheet
• Review of closed medical records
• Observation of one full surgery or procedure

The changes will extend the survey process by one day for centers performing more than 600 cases a year.

The Survey Guide for Ambulatory Health Care Organizations has been updated to reflect these changes and can be found here: http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/909B1B01-A467-41C0-9ACE-5477FFF1ED6D/0/2010AHC2010SAGv30210.pdf

Source: The Joint Commission Ambulatory Advisor
http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/41A0E9B7-2084-468B-9EBD-000E4BB468AA/0/AA_Issue_1_2010.pdf