…Survived JCAHO week at the hospital

In every setting, there is a judicial board, or a board in which determines and sees how things are done.  Well in the hospital world, the governing board is JCAHO or the Joint Commissions Accrediting Hospital Organization.  JCAHO comes around every year and during my orientation, I was informed that JCAHO was due “any-time” during my internships.  Well, the first two weeks went by with occasional conversation regarding JCAHO but no physical appearance of the organization roaming the halls in suits.  Until Monday, June 14th.  I run into my internship supervisor who mentions to me that JCAHO is “in the hospital.”  She told me that if anyone from the organization approaches me, I should tell them that I am an intern and I cannot or should not say anything without my supervisor with me (my clinical instructor or internship supervisor).  So this helped me to feel better regarding being approached.  

So then started all the “hub-bub” regarding JCAHO in the building.  I learned a few important things from their visit:

1. Nothing can be on the floor, other than a chair.  So this means no bags, no shoes, no books, etc.  I don’t really know why this would be, but I guess the Joint Commission finds it important :-)

2. There must be an 18” clearance from the ceiling to any items, such as cubicles or items on top of the cubicle.  So if you place anything on top of your cubicle, there must be the 18” clearance.  So then I asked myself, “is this a fire hazard??”

3. The organization reviews the interactions and care that occur in the hospital by “tracking” patients.  This is usually done by tracking a patient that has been recently admitted and then following that patient through his/her care.  Now the organization is not supposed to be the “bad guys” but they are there to make sure everyone involved in patient care is doing their part to provide the best care possible.

4. Everyone becomes very very ancy when JCAHO is around.  Either people try to avoid all encounter with them if possible.  And this is understandable, because no one wants to get questioned regarding the care they provide, and no one wants to answer a questions incorrectly in regards to the hospital. 

• people become more high strung
• documentation must be clearly written with proper abbreviations so not to provide poor care. 

Overall, it was a very interesting experience to survive JCAHO week.  It provided me with some good knowledge for the future, if I ever work in a hospital setting.  Just remember…someone is ALWAYS watching…