By April 1, the first deadline, hospital leaders were required to assign responsibility for the oversight, coordination, and development of the goals and requirements. By July 1, there needs to be an implementation work plan in place that identifies the resources needed. By Oct. 1, pilot testing in one clinical area should be underway.
The Joint Commission is serious about organizations meeting these implementation milestones, Dr. Angood said. Hospitals that don't meet the quarterly deadlines will be docked points on their evaluation.
For 2009, hospitals will need to comply with the following six “implementation expectations” set out by the Joint Commission:
▸ Select an early recognition and response method suitable to the hospital's needs and resources.
▸ Develop criteria for how and when to request assistance to respond to a change in a patient's condition.
▸ Empower staff, patients, and/or families to request additional assistance if they have a concern.
▸ Provide formal education about response policies and practices for both those who might respond and those who might request assistance.
▸ Measure the utility and effectiveness of the interventions.
▸ Measure cardiopulmonary arrest rates, respiratory arrest rates, and mortality rates before and after implementation of the program.