Important! Changes to Three JCI Policies Approved

The Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation Committee has approved changes to three of its policies, effective immediately for all accredited organizations.

The changes are as follows:

► JCI’s Confidential Information Policy now states that JCI will note, on its Web site, that an organization’s status is either
    accredited, or accreditation withdrawn, with the date that either status decision was issued. The status of accreditation
    withdrawn will be posted on the JCI Web site for 6 months.

► For JCI Accreditation Policy: Reporting Requirements Between Surveys, the following additions were approved regarding
    which types of changes to an accredited or certified organization’s operations or structure which must be reported to JCI
    Accreditation, as they may require a full or focused on-site accreditation or certification survey:
      – A local, regional, or national regulatory or licensing body has conducted an investigation or inspection resulting in 
         recommendations for improvement or an adverse outcome that necessitates an immediate change in the organizations
         (for example, mandated closure of all or part of the organization or a department[s], program[s], or service[s] which
         prohibits the organization from providing care to patients
      – A physician’s license, registration, or certification to practice medicine and provide care to the organization’s patients
         has been revoked, cancelled, terminated, or limited by a legal/regulatory authority(s) or by the organization and the
         licensed independent practitioner is still providing care in the organization.

► In JCI’s Process for Responding to a Complaint about a Joint Commission International–Accredited Organization 
     click on the title to read more about this process on the JCI Web site) the policy has been modified as follows:
     – JCI Accreditation requires the accredited organization to communicate to hospital employees, visitors, and patients
        that when complaints are not resolved to their satisfaction, individuals may choose to report their complaint to JCI
        Accreditation.
     – JCI Accreditation’s policies prohibit organizations from taking retaliatory action against employees who submit a 
        complaint to JCI Accreditation and prohibit JCI Accreditation from disclosing to a complainant whether a complaint 
        is substantiated.

These updated policies will be published in their entirety in Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Hospitals, 4th Edition in July 2010. For other inquiries, contact the JCI Accreditation department using the link below.

Contact JCI Accreditation by email with questions or to receive the complete, updated policies.