Streamlining regulatory compliance through clinical systems

The Joint Commission states that its mission is "to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of healthcare accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in healthcare organizations.... Accreditation is a risk-reduction activity; compliance with standards is intended to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes" (JCAHO, 2003). The focus of JCAHO is not much different from that of every health care organization. Clinical information systems should be employed to help deliver safer, more efficient patient care, and at the same time ensure that health care organizations achieve regulatory compliance.