Special report. Complying with the 1995 JCAHO security and safety standards: Part II.
With the recent publication and enforcement of its Environment of Care (EC) standards, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has completed a 10-year transition from having no security standards, to promulgating vague standards buried under plant management, to (in 1995) specific standards enforced by specific survey guidelines that apply to all hospitals--large and small. This transition, while applauded in principle by hospital security management leaders, has led to charges by some that complying with the standards--and, more importantly, preparing for the surveys--is overtaxing their departments. Concern is also being voiced about the limited know-how of some surveyors in what constitutes good and/or meaningful security. JCAHO officials, however, remain positive about the new standards, as do a number of others in security management who feel that the current difficulties will work themselves out. In Part II of this report, we'll present the views of JCAHO officials and members of the Commission's advisory faculty, as well as the views and experiences of security directors at major hospitals--including a number of IAHSS officials.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D007591:Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; D012637:Security Measures / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States