[Source: Health Law Weekly, September 7, 2007]
The Joint Commission announced September 6 a revised accreditation participation requirement that explicitly provides that physicians and medical staff may report quality of care concerns with the knowledge that the hospital is prohibited from taking any retaliatory action.
Although the previous requirement referred to general hospital staff, it was always intended that physicians and medical staff be included as part of “Good Faith Participation” in the accreditation policy, the Joint Commission said in a press release.
Under the revised requirement, accredited hospitals must educate staff and medical staff that they can report quality concerns to the Joint Commission and inform them that no retaliatory disciplinary action will be taken by the hospital as a result.
The revised requirement is effective January 1, 2008.
Read the Joint Commission’s press release.
