Joint Commission Revises Restraint and Seclusion Standard

The Joint Commission has revised its restraint and seclusion standard (PC.12.90) effective immediately to align with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services final rule on patients’ rights. The CMS rule, issued in December 2006, applies to all hospitals that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid program. Among other provisions, it allows a registered nurse or physician assistant to conduct the "face-to-face" evaluation required within one hour after a patient is restrained or secluded, if the RN or PA is trained in accordance with CMS requirements and consults with the attending physician or a licensed independent practitioner as soon as possible.