The Joint Commission has made several changes to a hospital accreditation standard to address patient flow in emergency departments.
The changes affect standard LD.04.03.11: The hospital manages the flow of patients throughout the hospital. They include several omissions and alterations. For instance, hospitals are no longer required to measure a previous component of the patient flow process, which is the efficiency of areas where patients care, treatment and services. New elements of performance include the following:
• The hospital measures and sets goals for mitigating and managing the boarding of patients who come through the emergency department. (See also NPSG.15.01.01, EPs 1 and 2; PC.01.01.01, EPs 4 and 49; PC.01.02.03, EP 3; PC.02.01.19, EP 1 and 2).
• When the hospital determines that it has a population at risk for boarding due to behavioral health emergencies, hospital leaders communicate with behavioral healthcare providers and/or authorities serving the community to foster coordination of care for this population. (See also LD.03.04.01, EP 3 and 6).
Each of these new elements of performance will go into effect Jan. 1, 2014. To view all the changes to standard LD.04.03.11 in full, click here.
The changes affect standard LD.04.03.11: The hospital manages the flow of patients throughout the hospital. They include several omissions and alterations. For instance, hospitals are no longer required to measure a previous component of the patient flow process, which is the efficiency of areas where patients care, treatment and services. New elements of performance include the following:
• The hospital measures and sets goals for mitigating and managing the boarding of patients who come through the emergency department. (See also NPSG.15.01.01, EPs 1 and 2; PC.01.01.01, EPs 4 and 49; PC.01.02.03, EP 3; PC.02.01.19, EP 1 and 2).
• When the hospital determines that it has a population at risk for boarding due to behavioral health emergencies, hospital leaders communicate with behavioral healthcare providers and/or authorities serving the community to foster coordination of care for this population. (See also LD.03.04.01, EP 3 and 6).
Each of these new elements of performance will go into effect Jan. 1, 2014. To view all the changes to standard LD.04.03.11 in full, click here.
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