*TS: Patient Safety Systems: New Accreditation Manual Chapter for Hospitals[®] [REF: 2015, CJCP, JCSC, LDR, PI, SFT] The Source, September 2014, Vol 12, #9, Pg 1  JCs1409_B2

     Patient Safety Systems (PS) will be a new chapter in the hospital accreditation manual effective January 1, 2015.  The article says the new chapter will not contain new standards or requirements.  Instead, it is to serve as a framework and provide strategies that encourage and support hospitals in developing a more integrated, systematic and effective approach to patient safety. We have not found a pre-publication version yet, but an outline of the chapter is provided on page 8 of the article and its 10 sections include:

•  Becoming a Learning Organization
•  The Role of Hospital Leaders in Patient Safety
•  Data Use and Reporting Systems
•  A Proactive Approach to Preventing Harm
•  Encouraging Patient Activation

Headings such as these give the impression of a ‘how to guide’ for more effective implementation of LD.04.04.05 which is referred to as a related requirement. The chapter as a whole also seems to reflect TJC’s continuing advocacy of ‘High Reliability’ in our hospitals and introduces into the manual, language related to harm reduction. The reader should also note the dedication of a chapter section to encouraging ‘patient activation’ and collaboration.
The article also announces additional integration and refinement of safety issues in a major revision of the Sentinel Event Policy in the Sentinel Events chapter.  This will include:

•  A revised and more limited definition of Sentinel Events
•  Conceptualization of Sentinel events as a sub-category of Patient Safety Events
•  More “collaboration” between hospitals and TJC on SE follow-up activities
•  Changed basis of some due dates from calendar to business days

Tip: Go to the comments section of this review for some Key Definitions of terms in this article.
Tip: Follow our Custom Information Feed for new 2015 requirements (CIF_2015) to keep up with further details and developments related to the Patient Safety Systems chapter and Sentinel Event revisions.