Joint Commission approves changes to National Patient Safety Goals for accredited programs

Jan. 23, 2020

The Joint Commission recently approved changes to its National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) for all accreditation programs. The changes include editorial revisions and moving some requirements to the standards. These changes go into effect July 1, 2020.

The commission periodically reviews its NPSGs and moves some to standards in order to focus on new safety topics. Based on a review during 2019 — including literature, data analysis and assessments from leadership and surveyors — the following NPSGs will move to the standards:

·        NPSG.01.03.01 — Transfusion errors related to patient misidentification

·         NPSG.07.03.01 — Multidrug-resistant organisms

·         NPSG.07.04.01 — Central line–associated bloodstream infections

·         NPSG.07.05.01 — Surgical site infections

·         NPSG.07.06.01 — Catheter-associated urinary tract infections

The decision to move these NPSGs to standards was driven by survey observation data and evidence of safety and quality improvement. The Joint Commission will continue to evaluate transfusion and infection control safety through accreditation survey activities, stakeholder feedback and review of safety trends.

The reviewers determined that additional progress toward patient safety is required for these NPSGs and Universal Protocol (UP) standards:

·         NPSG.01.01.01 — Patient identification

·         NPSG.02.03.01 — Critical test results

·         NPSG.03.04.01 — Labeling medications in perioperative and other procedural settings

·         NPSG.03.05.01 — Reducing harm from anticoagulation therapy

·         NPSG.03.06.01 — Accurate medication information

·         NPSG.06.01.01 — Clinical alarms

·         NPSG.07.01.01 — Hand hygiene

·         NPSG.09.02.01 — Reducing risk of falls

·         NPSG.14.01.01 — Pressure ulcer risk assessment and action

·         NPSG.15.01.01 — Suicide risk

·         NPSG.15.02.01 — Home oxygen safety

·         UP.01.01.01 — Pre-procedure verification process

·         UP.01.02.01 — Mark procedure site

·         UP.01.03.01 — Perform pre-procedure time-out

The revisions can be viewed online on The Joint Commission’s website or in the online spring 2020 E-dition update for all Comprehensive Accreditation Manuals.

Joint Commission has the announcement.

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