Joint Commission Reports Positive Survey Resul...( Triennial Safety and Quality Review E...),Health

Triennial Safety and Quality Review Examines All Aspects of Hospital Operations

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Results of the recent triennial survey of Cambridge Health Alliance by The Joint Commission, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety and quality of health care in the US, were "outstanding," according to Dennis D. Keefe, CHA's chief executive officer, and "is the best report we've seen on CHA's operations since its inception."

The Joint Commission survey is an unannounced, intense review of hospital practices and no stone is left unturned in its surveys, which effect a hospital's accreditation. Seven surveyors from the Joint Commission spent a total of six days conducting the review of CHA's three main campuses and 20 ambulatory centers in September and October. Following the initial results, hospitals have 45 days to submit responses and provide data to support any areas of disagreement.

In its initial CHA review, the Joint Commission found 10 areas where it made recommendations to fully meet standards. None of the findings threatened accreditation but CHA administrators provided additional documentation to clarify CHA's performance and demonstrated sufficient compliance with standards. Earlier this month, CHA was informed that the Joint Commission accepted clarifications in seven of its findings and the three remaining items - covering such things as bedside procedure "time outs" and medication storage issues - may be reduced further still.

"Combined with the many other accolades and recognition of our achievement and improving quality and safety, the Joint Commission confirms that despite our well publicized and chronicled financial situation, we are focused on what's most important and I'm proud of everyone involved in sustaining our mission," Keefe said.

This year, for example, CHA was one of 17 hospitals in Massachusetts rec
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