The Joint Commission will launch an advanced certification for total hip and total knee replacement programs.
Here are five key notes on the program:
1. The Advanced Certification for total hip and total knee replacement must meet all eligibility requirements for disease-specific certification. Those requirements include:
• Located in the United States or operated by the U.S. government or under a U.S. Congressional charter
• Provided within a Joint Commission-accredited organization
• Serve a minimum number of patients
• Use standardized care delivery methods based on clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based best practices
• Employs performance measures to improve over time
2. The organization can benefit from the advanced certification through improve patient outcomes over time and increased patient volumes through referrals.
3. The certified programs may attract and retain highly competitive staff. The certification also differentiates the organization from other programs in the market.
4. The Joint Commission will begin accepting applications on Dec. 17, 2015 for the new advanced certification. The onsite reviews will start in early 2016 to hospitals, critical access hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.
5. The characteristics surveyors will focus on for the total joint replacement certification include patient education, consultation in the preoperative through postoperative episode of care, shred decision-making and consistent communication between healthcare providers.