2011 JCI Hospital Standards Published 1 July 2010

The fourth edition of the Joint Commission International (JCI) Standards for Hospitals was published 1 July 2010 and will be effective for surveys scheduled on or after 1 January 2011.

The Standards Subcommittee of JCI’s Accreditation Committee met in Frankfurt on 2–3 February 2010 (see Photo 1 below) to review proposed changes to the third edition hospital standards. From that meeting came new and revised standards that went to field review 22 February through 12 March before full approval by the Accreditation Committee 31 March 2010.

Although changes to the third edition standards in 2007 were far-reaching, the fourth edition standards are less extensive. Significant changes will include the following:

► “Improve the Safety of High-Alert Medications,” International Patient Safety Goal 3, covers all high-alert medications used by
the organization.

► The “Access to Care and Continuity of Care” chapter (ACC) has new requirements on the need to stabilize emergency patients
prior to transfer to another organization and the need to strengthen the integration of outpatient information for patients
provided ongoing care from multiple clinics.

► The “Patient and Family Rights” chapter (PFR) now includes a requirement that the organization supports the patient’s right
to obtain second opinions.

► The “Assessment of Patients” chapter (AOP) includes a new requirement regarding timely reporting of critical results of diagnostic
tests.

► The “Quality Improvement and Patient Safety” chapter (QPS) includes expanded requirements on comprehensive risk
     management framework as a tool for the reduction of adverse events, selection of at least 5 clinical measures from the
    International Library of Measures, and two new standards intended to focus organizations on the quality of the data
    they collect and use in their improvement activities.

► The “Prevention and Control of Infections” chapter (PCI) includes expanded requirements regarding the reuse of
single-use devices.

► The “Governance, Leadership, and Direction” chapter (GLD) calls for greater oversight of organizational contracts
and independent practitioners, as well as establishing a framework for ethical management to ensure that patient care
is provided within business, financial, ethical, and legal norms and that protects patients, their families, and employees.

Important note:
Some errors appear in the first print and electronic versions of this book. Click here to see those errors and corrections. JCI apologizes for the errors and any confusion they cause.