Laboratory Medicine

June 14, 2006

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Joint Commission Issues 2007 Patient Safety Goals

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has announced its 2007 National Patient Safety Goals and related Requirements, which apply to the nearly 15,000 Joint Commission-accredited and certified health care organizations and programs. Goals that apply to Laboratory Services are:

Goal 1: Improve the accuracy of patient identification.

a. Use at least two patient identifiers when providing care, treatment or services.

b. Prior to the start of any invasive procedure, conduct a final verification process, (such as a "time out,") to confirm the correct patient, procedure and site using active-not passive-communication techniques.

Goal 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers.

a. For verbal or telephone orders or for telephonic reporting of critical test results, verify the complete order or test result by having the person receiving the information record and "read-back" the complete order or test result.

b. Standardize a list of abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, and dose designations that are not to be used throughout the organization.

c. Measure, assess and, if appropriate, take action to improve the timeliness of reporting, and the timeliness of receipt by the responsible licensed caregiver, of critical test results and values.

e. Implement a standardized approach to "hand off" communications, including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions.

Goal 7: Reduce the risk of health care-associated infections.

a. Comply with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hand hygiene guidelines.

b. Manage as sentinel events all identified cases of unanticipated death or major permanent loss of function associated with a health care-associated infection.

Goal 13: Encourage patients' active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy.

a. Define and communicate the means for patients and their families to report concerns


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