The Joint Commission has identified the five most challenging hospital accreditation standards in the first half of 2013.
Here are the five standards that were most frequently deemed not compliant for hospitals in the first half of the year, along with their noncompliance rates. The first two are the same top two challenging requirements identified in 2012. The third and fifth most challenging requirements were also among the top five in 2012; the percent of noncompliance in 2012 is in parentheses.
1. The hospital maintains complete and accurate medical records for each individual patient (RC.01.01.01) — 60 percent (55 percent in 2012).
2. The hospital maintains the integrity of the means of egress (LS.02.01.20) — 54 percent (51 percent in 2012)
3. The hospital reduces the risk of infections associated with medical equipment, devices and supplies (IC.02.02.01) — 47 percent (42 percent in 2012).
4. The hospital manages risks associated with its utility systems (EC.02.05.01) — 46 percent.
5. Building and fire protection features are designed and maintained to minimize the effects of fire, smoke and heat (LS.02.01.10) — 45 percent (46 percent in 2012).
The fourth most challenging requirement for the first half of 2013 was not identified among the top challenges last year. In 2012, the fifth most challenging requirement was EC.02.03.05: "The hospital maintains fire safety equipment and fire safety building features" at 40 percent noncompliance.
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