Jcaho

[TraciRN]

I am looking at an ER job and a Non JCAHO hospital. What are the pros and cons of JCAHO?

Thanks Traci

[jmtndl]

I imagine at a non- JCAHO hospital you might find something stored under a sink.They are so worthless that I cannot imagine it would make a whit of difference!

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Joint Commission sets the standards for hospitals, derived from evidence-based patient practice. As much as I complain about the paperwork that's generated, I would not work in a hospital that was not accredited.

I would encourage you to research what Joint Commission is and why it exists.

http://www.jointcommission.org/AccreditationPrograms/Hospitals/

[mpccrn, BSN, RN]

if JCAHO really wanted to know what was going on they'd come unannounced every time.....not set a date and time to review a unit...giving everyone time to clean up the place before they show up. what's the big deal about throwing a pillow case over an open dirty linen bin??? or why not have coffee at the desk?? it probably is the only place i'll have the time to take a drink! let's be real....while JCAHO rules and regs are good on paper, they really don't occur unless they are in the building.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

JCAHO does not announce visits. My hospital, and the last one I worked in had to be prepared for a visit anytime during the year.

My understanding is that Medicare/Medicaid will not pay for care at an unaccredited hospital.

[mcknis]

Not sure of the exact details, but I am aware that hospitals do not have to be Joint Commission accredited. In order to receive medicare coverage, this might not be true. JC is pretty ridiculous IMO, and regs aren't followed to the T until JC walks through the doors. Even our units remain the same during in-house surveys (non-JC) and return to normal after the surveys are completed. Everybody wants the top score, but no one wants to do the work to get there or to maintain said scores. Argh, to JC!!!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

It is true that they are supposed to come unannounced, now, but I think that is a load of crock. Our administrators had those surveyors trailed to the point where they knew their names and personalities by the time they got to us. If they moved from a certain geographical area, we knew that we were 'safe' for the week. As they migrated closer, we were forced to remain overtime to clean up our mess.

When they finally did come, they somehow avoided the 'biggy' areas such as the ER, Coumadin Clinic, Medical Clinic and even the ICU. I swear, I think that some of them were friends with our CEO and did him a favor.

[mshultz]

...Everybody wants the top score, but no one wants to do the work to get there or to maintain said scores...

One of the great truths about life in general. Another one is:

Everything is a compromise (so when you hear an ad about a product with no compromises, it's time to hit the Mute button, or turn the channel).

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

A non-JCAHO hospital can have 2 meanings:

1. they may be directly accredited by Medicare - in which case thing will go on just as if they were JCAHO accredited. Some hospitals have gotten so put off with JCAHO that they have just opted to go through a Medicare inspection instead which is absolutely OK with the Medicare people
   
2. they may not be accredited at all - the only drawback to this is that they cannot bill Medicare or MedicAid for services they provide to these patients nor can they bill these patients for the services unless they tell them that Medicare isn't going to pay and that they must pay out of their own pocket. That means you are likely to have grumbly patients. It also puts you ER people in an awkward position if someone half dead stumbles into your ER needing immediate life saving care. You can't just let them die because they can't pay.

[DusktilDawn]

JCAHO does not announce visits. My hospital, and the last one I worked in had to be prepared for a visit anytime during the year.

My understanding is that Medicare/Medicaid will not pay for care at an unaccredited hospital.

Technically, no they are not announced, but since that came into effect (at least in MI), the facility I worked at seemed to have a "general idea" when JCAHO would be coming.

[CritterLover, BSN, RN]

some small, rural hospitals are also non-accredited, yet able to bill medicare for services.

it has to do with the amount of competition the facility has. if there isn't anywhere else for a patient to go, then medicare will pay.

i interviewed at such a hospital a few years ago. the cno told me they "act like" they are jc accredited (ie follow all of the same rules), they just don't have to pay the money/put up with the inspection.