TJC: Medication reconciliation National Patient Safety Goal to be reviewed, refined

February 6, 2009 by admin

Medication errors continue to be one of the most frequent causes of preventable harms in health care. The Joint Commission is committed to helping organizations prevent medication errors, as evidenced by National Patient Safety Goal on medication reconciliation, which highlights a critical problem that poses significant risk to patients. However, since the Goal on medication reconciliation was instituted in 2005, many organizations have struggled to develop and implement effective and efficient processes to meet the intent of the Goal.   The Joint Commission Accreditation Committee determined that effective January 1, 2009, survey findings on National Patient Safety Goal 8 (Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care) will continue to be evaluated during the on-site survey. However, given the difficulties that many organizations are having in meeting the complex requirements of NPSG 8, the Accreditation Committee agreed that The Joint Commission should evaluate and refine the expectations for accredited organizations. While this evaluation is being conducted, survey findings from NPSG 8 will not be factored into the organization’s accreditation decision. In addition, survey findings on NPSG 8 will not generate Requirements for Improvement (RFIs) and will not appear on the accreditation report.Medication reconciliation National Patient Safety Goal to be reviewed, refined | Joint Commission

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