JCAHO announces revised leadership standards review
The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is accepting comments on revisions to the Leadership chapter through May 4, 2006, the commission announced. The proposed revisions to the Leadership chapter encompass new leadership accountability standards; a new standard that addresses the need for cultures of safety and quality in healthcare organizations; and increased emphasis on the performance of important systems in these organizations.
JCAHO conducted an initial field review of proposed revisions to the Leadership chapter in October 2005, and has made changes to the proposed revisions based upon input from the first field review. The commission is currently seeking "comments and suggestions on those standards that address the authority of the governing body and assessment of organization culture. We also encourage comments about the ability of individual organizations to comply with the new Leadership standards." Comments on other parts of the revised chapter are also welcome.
Because of the nature of the content of this standards chapter, the commission is particularly interested in receiving comments from governing body, management and medical staff leaders.