Perioperative implications of the Joint Commission's 2009 accreditation requirements

Facilities that are accredited by the Joint Commission are deemed as meeting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services certification requirements. The accreditation requirements have undergone recent changes. In January 2009, the Joint Commission issued new and revised accreditation requirements. The new requirements have been reviewed by surveyors since April 6, 2009, and are being scored as of July 1, 2009. The revised requirements add additional specifics to the elements of performance. Perioperative nurses will need to understand how these new and revised accreditation requirements will be enforced within their workplaces. This article provides an overview and some ideas for implementation. AORN J 90 (September 2009) 417-429. (c) AORN, Inc, 2009.