Joint Commission is like critical in laws

klone, MSN, RN · May 25, 2017

It's no longer JCAHO, it's just "The Joint Commission" so you can abbreviate it TJC, if that helps. Or just JC. Like Jesus. WWJC - What Would Joint Commission do?

allnurses Guide · May 25, 2017

They were just here a few weeks ago. I stayed away from the main part of the hospital. Our little office is next door and they weren't looking at us.

But I do have to get the mail and that entails walking nearby. My name tag face photo is horrible (I look dead) so I've kept it covered with a funny-face sticker. Hey, home hospice nurses can get away with stuff. :sneaky:

So, when I went to the hospital, I just flipped my badge over.

I'm not crazy about the in-law connection. I love going to see my grandkids but I don't call or email expectations. In fact, I zip my lip.

Maybe I'm rare.

Davey Do · May 26, 2017

Emergent said:
we should just pay JACHO to do nothing.
Don't we already pay them to do nothing?

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RainMom · May 26, 2017

Ugh, seems like that's an ax hanging over everybody's head at work right now. JC found just enough to trigger a future follow up visit. Managers are panicking & have brought back in the consultants (who were supposed to be finding all these "aggregious" errors in the first place before the survey) who are now nit-picking every.little.thing. Like scuffed paint on walls & arms of pt recliners that look a little too worn.

Seriously.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · May 28, 2017

I thought my current hospital wouldn't pass JCAHO, but they got an exceptionally high rating, and posted it for the public to see. I think it's a schmoozing contest, with no real life consistency among hospitals. I've worked somewhere that changed their rules "because JCAHO said so" but two other hospitals in the same area didn't have the same rule- no drinks at the nurses station, for example. Only one out of five American hospitals I worked at, in the ten years I was there, had the no drinks rule, but they were RABID about it. I resigned within 6 months on that one because I require water to function.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · May 28, 2017

I thought my current hospital wouldn't pass JCAHO, but they got an exceptionally high rating, and posted it for the public to see. I think it's a schmoozing contest, with no real life consistency among hospitals. I've worked somewhere that changed their rules "because JCAHO said so" but two other hospitals in the same area didn't have the same rule- no drinks at the nurses station, for example. Only one out of five American hospitals I worked at, in the ten years I was there, had the no drinks rule, but they were RABID about it. I resigned within 6 months on that one because I require water to function.

Per JC standards, covered drinks are acceptable in patient care areas. Open drinks are not. So a water bottle with a sealed lid would be fine.

klone, MSN, RN · May 28, 2017

I thought my current hospital wouldn't pass JCAHO, but they got an exceptionally high rating, and posted it for the public to see. I think it's a schmoozing contest, with no real life consistency among hospitals. I've worked somewhere that changed their rules "because JCAHO said so" but two other hospitals in the same area didn't have the same rule- no drinks at the nurses station, for example. Only one out of five American hospitals I worked at, in the ten years I was there, had the no drinks rule, but they were RABID about it. I resigned within 6 months on that one because I require water to function.

The requirement is actually no UNCOVERED drinks at the nurses' station.

Or, what Double Helix said above, sorry!

What I've found is that every JC person has their own little things they nitpick at, and what they find, another JC person might not look twice at. It's often influenced by their background (for example, a JC person who used to be an IC nurse is going to look very closely at the facility's handy hygiene statistics, see if the facility has any current QI projects in place to manage hand hygiene, etc, and another person might just give that stuff a cursory glance).

I've learned that you just gotta play the game. Some things are non-negotiable all the time. Some things, you do while they're here because that's what they're expecting, and because it's silly, you let it go after they leave.

Muser69 · May 28, 2017

I don't think the contract I signed with my hospital states that I must speak to a group of people from a pseudo government blackmailing agency. I was hired to take care of patients. I have never in 46 years have encountered TJC, but if I do I will politely tell them to question my manager. Luckily I am old enough that I can just tell them no thanks, not interested. I will just hand in my ID and leave. Perfect way to end my career.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · May 28, 2017

My hospital switched to DNV. Now everyone is a little more relaxed, I hear.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · May 28, 2017

1: ZDoggMD (my opening act) posits that The Joint Commission sounds like a marijuana dispensary.

2: Hear a rumor that TJC people have fallen under the sway of all that Studer bullcrap/ nonsense.

3: Last survey I was around for before leaving the hospital- they dinged us for having a stack of plastic enclosed Styrofoam cups next to the ice machine. We were required to place them in a cabinet. In the LOCKED med/ nutrition room.

K9lover, ASN, RN · May 30, 2017

Awww, the suits, the 'what if' people, the finders of fault be it existent or not. As with all regulatory agencies they are in the business of keeping themselves in business and will come up with a brand-spanking new set of measures, regs et al in the interest of their interests and their interest is keeping up the facade they are needed. On the OTHER hand I always got a kick out of hospitals in their self-serving hypocrisy staffing up to safe and sane levels for JC only to return to their bare bones staffing the nanosecond the suits blew on to the next facility.

How about staffing adequately all of the time?