Jcaho

JCAHO is coming to our free-standing surgery center for our first certification. What do we as staff nurses need to know? What should we expect? Our manager has told us NOTHING & they are coming in less than 2 weeks!! Any input appreciated. Thank you! :penguin:

Sometimes they look at a lot of charting, so I'd make sure your consents are in order. They have asked about a specific pt. If they ask a policy question and you can't answer be sure to know where you find the answer...know where the P&Ps are. We were told to huddle around the one getting quizzed for support. They have asked when you'd shut off the O2 supply for the building. How isolation is handled. What's the mission statement.

If you go to the JCAHO website, you can find the standards. And if you sign up for your speciality, they will e-mail you and pertinant changes.

They are using a system called "patient tracer" where they pick a specific patient (at random) and follow the entire admission, making sure that the expectations are met at each step of the way. Ask your boss what they have about the standards.

When they ask you questions it is OK not to know the answer, just make sure your reply is something like... 'I don't know but I know where to find the answer'. They also like to ask about emergent situations such as fire.

Just saw your post today, hope this isn't too late! JCAHO was just at our facility last week. Make sure your charting is correct as far as make sure there are no banned abbreviations used, make sure everything is signed by you and/or the Dr. Make sure med closets are locked, no food or drink sitting around. They also look at safety stuff like know where the fire pulls and extinguishers are and know where to go in case of fire/tornado. They are OK if you don't know the answer, just know where to FIND the answer.

Its very stressful, but you will be OK...

what about medication reconciliation in a free standing/md office type facility - curious how most md offices are doing med reconciliation.