Healing Hands Hospital Preparing For Accreditation

healing Hands Hospital is Preparing For An Accreditation Vi

Description Healing Hands Hospital is preparing for an accreditation visit from The Joint Commission. (TJC). TJC accredits health care organizations to improve the quality and safety of health care services. Their Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (CAMH) includes the following standards and regulations: Patient-Focused Functions such as infection prevention and control; medication management; provision of care, treatment, and services; rights and responsibilities of the individual. Organization Functions such as management of the environment of care, emergency management, human resources, management of information, life safety, medical staff, nursing, performance improvement, record of care, treatment, services, and leadership.

For this assignment, you will complete the following: From the list of standards mentioned above, choose 1 Patient-Focused Function and Organization Function and discuss why each of those functions are important to patient safety. Discuss why government regulations and private regulations such as those of The Joint Commission are necessary in health care.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Ensuring patient safety is paramount in healthcare, requiring rigorous standards and oversight. Accredited healthcare organizations, such as hospitals seeking Joint Commission (TJC) accreditation, are held to strict standards to maintain and improve the quality of care. This paper discusses the significance of two specific functions—one from the patient-focused category and one from the organizational category—and explores the importance of government and private regulations in safeguarding patient well-being.

Patient-Focused Function: Infection Prevention and Control

Infection prevention and control is a critical patient-focused function that directly impacts patient safety by minimizing the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This function involves implementing strict protocols for hand hygiene, sterilization, use of personal protective equipment, and environmental cleaning. HAIs can lead to severe complications, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality rates (Magill et al., 2014). Effective infection control measures reduce the incidence of infections such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections, which can be life-threatening, especially among immunocompromised or vulnerable patient populations.

The importance of robust infection control protocols has been underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating how lapses can have devastating consequences (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). Ensuring compliance with infection prevention standards not only protects patients but also healthcare workers and visitors, creating a safer healthcare environment overall. Moreover, adherence to these standards reduces the burden of HAIs on healthcare systems and minimizes associated costs, contributing to enhanced patient safety outcomes (Magill et al., 2014).

Organization Function: Management of the Environment of Care

The management of the environment of care encompasses the physical infrastructure, safety systems, and related policies that ensure a safe, functional, and healing environment for patients and staff. This function includes maintaining facility cleanliness, equipment safety, effective fire safety protocols, and proper waste disposal. A well-managed environment reduces the risk of accidents, injuries, and exposure to hazardous materials (Joint Commission, 2020).

An optimal environment of care is vital for patient safety because it directly influences the risk of accidents, falls, infections, and other adverse events. For example, proper lighting, flooring, and accessible pathways prevent falls, a leading cause of injury in hospitals (Rizzo et al., 2019). Safe management of hazardous materials and effective emergency procedures also mitigate risks from fires, natural disasters, or other crises. Ensuring ongoing maintenance and safety checks aligns with accreditation standards that necessitate continuous quality improvement aimed at patient safety (Joint Commission, 2020).

Importance of Regulations in Healthcare

Regulations, both governmental and private, play an essential role in maintaining and elevating healthcare quality. Government agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) establish federal standards that hospitals must meet to receive funding and reimbursement (CMS, 2022). These regulations set baseline safety protocols covering infection control, patient rights, privacy, and quality measurement, ensuring consistency across healthcare facilities.

Private organizations like the Joint Commission add an additional layer of oversight, emphasizing continuous quality improvement and patient-centered care. TJC accreditation standards are comprehensive, evidence-based, and often go beyond governmental requirements, fostering a culture of safety and excellence (Chamberlain & Porter, 2014). Accreditation by TJC is recognized nationwide and is often a prerequisite for hospital funding and licensure, incentivizing compliance with high standards.

Both government and private regulations are necessary because they serve as checks and balances that ensure hospitals prioritize patient safety. Government regulations establish minimum standards, while private accreditation bodies motivate healthcare organizations to exceed these minimums through quality initiatives and accountability (Chamberlain & Porter, 2014). This dual framework creates a robust system for safeguarding patients from preventable harm.

Conclusion

The selected functions—infection prevention and control, and management of the environment of care—are fundamental to ensuring patient safety in healthcare settings. Their rigorous implementation minimizes risks of infection, injury, and other adverse events. Regulations from governmental and private entities are indispensable in establishing and enforcing these standards. They foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement, which ultimately enhances health outcomes and builds public trust in healthcare institutions.

References

Chamberlain, J. M., & Porter, A. (2014). The role of accreditation in nursing homes: Enhancing quality and safety. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 29(2), 125–130.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). (2022). Regulations and guidance. https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance

Joint Commission. (2020). Environment of care standards. https://www.jointcommission.org/standards/

Magill, S. S., et al. (2014). Multistate point-prevalence survey of health care-associated infections. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(13), 1198–1208.

Rizzo, A., et al. (2019). Falls prevention in hospitalized older adults: The importance of environment modification. Geriatric Nursing, 40(3), 276–282.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Infection prevention and control during health care when COVID-19 is suspected. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/10665-33292