title: New standards address patient-centered communications.
abstract: The Joint Commission soon will be holding hospital accountable for new standards that focus on making sure that patient needs regarding communications are identified and met. Standards that take effect in July 2011 focus on making sure patients are offered the opportunity to have a support person present during their care. Additional standards, to take effect later, call for hospitals to identify and accommodate language or other communications requirements. The fast pace and high stress of the ED environment create added challenges in meeting patient communications needs.
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007591:Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States