Three hospitals' survey experiences

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has made major alterations in its standards and survey process under the Agenda for Change, by emphasizing cross-functional healthcare. The Joint Commission published the changes in its 1994 Accreditation Manual for Hospitals, under which criteria these hospitals were surveyed. Surveyors concentrated on evaluating the following major issues: care of patients, particularly restraint policies and procedures; uniform performance of processes, particularly as related to conscious sedation; staff competency; and process improvement. The authors detail why a thorough, detailed preparation for the document review session is essential for a successful survey.