title: Tracers: they're not just for accreditation surveys.
abstract: Conducting periodic tracers will help your staff improve their performance, enhance communications with other hospital departments, and become more familiar with Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations standards and terminology. Address specific service lines (i.e., pneumonia, stroke) to identify more targeted opportunities for improvement. Pay particular attention to handoffs and documentation when conducting your own internal tracers. Mock surveys, including tracers, can be valuable tools for ensuring ongoing readiness for Joint Commission visits.
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003625:Data Collection; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017050:Episode of Care; D014481:United States