Preparing your Hospital for Compliance with the Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals

A recent Webcast hosted by Cardinal Health's Center for Safety and Clinical Excellence addressed the latest Joint Commission data, which showed a significant number of hospitals remain noncompliant with at least 1 of The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs). This article reviews the 4 leading areas of noncompliance, discusses the expectations of Joint Commission surveyors, describes strategies for ensuring compliance, and offers guidance on how hospitals can comply with the new NPSG that addresses anticoagulant therapy management by the January 1, 2009, deadline.