Coming in October 2009: New Ambulatory Care and Clinical Laboratory Standards

Second editions of Joint Commission International standards for Ambulatory Care and Clinical Laboratories are scheduled to be published in October 2009. These standards will be in effect for organizations undergoing initial or triennial accreditation surveys in 2010.

Ambulatory care standards are grouped in the following chapters:

Patient-Centered Standards
Patient Access and Assessment
Patient Care and Continuity
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Patient Record and Information Flow
Patient Services and Contracts
Patient and Family Education
Patient Anesthesia and Surgery

Health Care Organization Management Standards
Improvement in Quality and Patient Safety
Infection Control and Facility Safety
Human Resource Management
Governance and Leadership

Annex Chapters for Specialized Services
Anesthesia and Surgical Services
Dental Services
Radiology Services
Oncology Services
Ophthalmology Services

Clinical laboratory standards include the following chapters:

Management and Leadership
Development and Control of Policies and Procedures
Resource Management and Laboratory Environment
Quality Control Processes
International Patient Safety Goals