It’s the thought that counts…
If you’re looking to promote your organization’s services, this week’s post includes some tips from our business development specialist, Alison Clemens. When and how to use direct mail to effectively...
View ArticleHome Care Accreditation program's 25th anniversary
This June, The Joint Commission’s Home Care Accreditation program will celebrate our 25-year anniversary. Where has the time gone?
View ArticleSeason of the Talisman
As our resilient Midwest neighbors in Moore, Okla., recover from last month’s devastating F5 tornado, they demonstrate courage, community and caring. After hearing of the disaster, the first thing that...
View ArticleA “life preserver” to prevent drowning in meeting minutes
If your schedule is similar to mine, it includes many meetings, and when the meeting minutes are distributed, you simply don’t have time to wade through them. While grabbing lunch with several...
View ArticleIt’s time to get SMARTER about your company goals
Autumn has arrived. Customarily, this is the time when Joint Commission staff review our annual plans to see how much we’ve accomplished and what more needs to be done by year end. And, like many of...
View ArticleGuest Blogger George Mills: 10 Ways to Prevent Home Care Fires
Guest blog post by George MIlls, director, Department of Engineering, The Joint Commission. When the need for continued medical attention moves into the home care setting, fire prevention needs to be a...
View ArticleSBAR – a powerful tool to help improve communication!
On November 12, the Home Care team presented a webinar on “Fostering Safe, Effective Care Transitions.” Following the presentation, several listeners had questions about a powerful tool that is being...
View ArticleDelivering on our promise
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the long-anticipated proposed rule with emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare providers and suppliers on Dec. 27, 2013.This...
View ArticleLearning to speak the language of today’s health care
One of the reasons why I like working at The Joint Commission is that it’s one of the few places I’ve worked where data and consensus-based evidence trumps opinion. To be a valued partner in today’s...
View ArticleDinner with a friend, message from an advocate
Recently, a friend and I had dinner when the topic of choices of health care organizations came up, prompting my friend to say that she was reluctant to go with an organization recommended by her...
View ArticleLynn's song
If you’re like me, you check your phone regularly for news from family and friends. Some news is anticipated, and then there is the news that takes your breath away and makes you say, “Oh God, no!” For...
View ArticleThe measure of good counsel
As a part of our work to renew our Home Health deemed status relationship with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), The Joint Commission recently made some revisions to element of...
View ArticleCharting a course for success
As a child, I remember being fascinated by the sextant on my father’s desk. It was more than just an odd-looking contraption, he would explain. It was a tool used by expert mariners to navigate their...
View ArticleThe seasons of our lives
When my children were small, our fall calendar was punctuated by school conferences and fall festivals that celebrated our community relationships. Now, my fall calendar follows the ebb and flow of...
View ArticleIn the company of giants
Every now and again, life reminds you of just how fortunate we are to be living and working with the very best examples of quality in home care. Such was my experience over the last few weeks. With...
View ArticleTake Time to Reflect ... the Best is Yet to Come!
I am often accused of not taking time to reflect on accomplishments. Instead, I just move briskly from one goal to the next. Yet, there is one time when I break this habit – as the year comes to an...
View ArticleTaking the message year-round
As Black History month comes to a close, it’s a good time to look ahead and consider how to best serve the needs of our African-American clients and patients throughout the rest of this year and...
View ArticleFive Tips for a Successful Discharge
Dr. Mary Anne McCaffree explained how over the course of the years she has developed some standard practices during the discharge-planning process that contribute to a successful discharge. She...
View ArticleA trip to the library
Organizations seek to distinguish themselves based on performance excellence, and they expect The Joint Commission to support them on their journeys. To help fulfill this expectation, The Joint...
View ArticleA noteworthy three-peat
Every year, we honor organizations with the Enterprise Champion for Quality award for health care. This is a unique recognition for Joint Commission-accredited health care franchisors that acknowledges...
View ArticleA day of experts
Thanks to our colleagues at Joint Commission Resources, this year’s Home Care Executive Briefing will give you greater insight into how we work with industry experts to gain the information necessary...
View ArticleProfessional Opinions and Expertise Wanted
As part of our process we now seek the input from the field of home-care providers. It’s with that in mind that I urge all of you who deliver community-based palliative care services to review and...
View ArticleA Rewarding Launch
In the journey to create our new Community-Based Palliative Care Certification, we had the opportunity to work with recognized leaders in the field of palliative care. We were also guided by expert...
View ArticleHeading Down a New Path
Many of our home care programs are now taking a new path by adding Community-Based Palliative Care Certification. In doing so, these thought leaders are defining their roles in value-based care. Read...
View ArticleFive Ways SAFER Helps Outline Priorities
The SAFER matrix outlines all your corrective actions in one place. So easy to use!
View ArticleDon’t Re-Use Glucometers, Fingerstick Devices and Lancets
Don't risk a condition-level deficiency. Read our blog for the correct use of lancet, fingerstick and glucometer devices.
View ArticleFlexible Schedules Meet Evening Demand and Satisfy Employees at LHC Group
At LHC Group, flexible nurse scheduling satisfies the staff and the referral network.
View ArticleYou’re Invited: Inaugural Certification Conference on August 8
Quick: What are you doing August 8? Meet me at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois for air conditioning amid the dog days of summer—and our inaugural certification conference, the first of...
View ArticleNational Association for Home Care & Hospice Announces Death of Val J....
It is with great sadness that the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) announces the passing of its president, Val J. Halamandaris, after a long illness.
View ArticleState of California Licensing Home Care Facilities Based on Accreditation
Effective October 1, the California Department of Public Health approved The Joint Commission accreditation as an option for home health licensure and re-licensure in the state.
View ArticleCommunity-Based Palliative Care Certification Reduces Readmissions
Today’s palliative care is more individualized and goal-oriented than ever before, but there is still often a gap when it comes to receiving care outside hospital settings. All too often, palliative...
View ArticleHospice Trailblazer Named President of NAHC
A colleague and phenomenal industry leader, William A. Dombi, was just appointed president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC).
View ArticleCertification Reports of Compounding Hoods and Rooms Affecting Accreditation...
We’re noticing an alarming trend with reports generated by testing/certification companies’ reports regarding compounding hoods and rooms, and implore pharmacy managers and those responsible for...
View ArticleCase Managers Encouraged to Recommend Post-Acute Care
An urban legend that’s been making the rounds for decades is that The Joint Commission requires hospital discharge planners to utilize a third party when making recommendations for post-acute care.
View ArticleNo Written Plans of Care Required to be Distributed to Home Health Patients
Effective April 30, 2018, The Joint Commission will no longer score organizations that fail to give their patients a written plan of care.
View ArticleHigh Reliability Transformation Requires Leadership to Embrace Improvement
High reliability in health care means maintaining consistently strong levels of safety and quality over time and across all health care services and settings.
View ArticleParticipate in Landmark Palliative Care Mapping Project
The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), in collaboration with the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, has launched an the Mapping Community Palliative Care initiative. Not only...
View ArticleLessons Learned in Establishing a Strong Palliative Care Program
In helping organizations build palliative care programs, I’ve noticed that everyone stumbles on the same roadblocks. Understanding the common pitfalls is the first step toward a productive survey and...
View ArticleOn the D.C. Docket for Hospice, Home Care Providers
Despite a variety of issues in the news lately overshadowing health care policy discussions, many recent activities in Washington affect home care. Here is a roundup of key legislative and regulatory...
View ArticleTransitional Payment for Home Infusion on the Horizon
Big changes are ahead for home health agencies around home infusion therapy services. The Home Health Final Payment Rule, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in November...
View ArticleReporting Hazardous Conditions Supports Home Care Safety Culture
Home care organizations face several unique circumstances that makes providing high quality and safe care challenging. Successfully navigating these challenges requires a systems-based approach to...
View ArticleNew Home Health, Hospice Dashboards Spark Quality Conversations
A new dashboard report providing performance measurement data on a select subset of measures is now available for accredited home health and hospice organizations.
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