Tag: The Joint Commission

The Joint Commission President and CEO Addresses MHA Board

Member News

The MHA Board of Trustees welcomed The Joint Commission President and CEO Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD to its Feb. 3 meeting. In his guest presentation, Dr. Perlin shared The Joint Commission’s mission to work in partnership with its member organizations throughout 86 countries to improve healthcare outcomes for all patients, implement cost-reducing sustainable practices, maximize the learning and diagnostic potential of artificial intelligence and streamline standards to focus on the performance and benchmarking metrics member organizations need to be successful.

The board received a Health PAC report on the kick-off of the 2025 campaign, which provides support to identified healthcare legislative champions. The board also discussed the MHA 2024-2025 Strategic Action Plan, which sets the association’s priorities for the year and is organized into five key pillars: workforce support, protecting access, support for mental and behavioral health, creating healthy communities and strengthening cybercrime/cybersecurity policy.

The board’s action plan conversation focused on preserving Medicaid funding programs, supporting statewide community benefits priorities aimed at supporting moms and babies and improving mental and behavioral healthcare. The board also discussed the impact of recent federal activity and the ongoing advocacy strategy at the state level to protect the 340B program and amend the Earned Sick Time Act to address employer concerns and ensure patient care is not negatively impacted.

Board member, Adnan Munkarah, MD, president, Care Delivery System, Chief Clinical Officer, Henry Ford Health, provided a safety story that highlighted the importance of the partnership between home health caregivers, EMS, law enforcement and hospital mental and behavioral health resources to help a patient struggling with suicidal thoughts get the help they needed.

The board concluded with board task force reports, an MHA Keystone Center and MHA Service Corporation report, regional hospital council reports, an AHA report and an update from MHA CEO Brian Peters.

Members with questions about the actions of the MHA Board of Trustees may contact Amy Barkholz at the MHA.

Special Pathogen Preparedness and the Revised Infection Control Joint Commission Standards Webinar

Member News

The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training & Education Center, in collaboration with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, are hosting the webinar Special Pathogen Preparedness and the Revised Infection Control Joint Commission Standards Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. ET.

The webinar will provide an in-depth exploration of the latest infection control requirements set by The Joint Commission, reviewing the key changes to the standards that became effective July 1, 2024. Speakers will give insight and strategies for successful implementation and compliance. Attendees will also have access to valuable resources and tools to help organizations adopt these new standards.

Members are encouraged to register for the free webinar.

Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.

Maternal Levels of Care Toolkit Created to Assist with TJC Verification

Patient Safety and Quality, Member News

A toolkit of resources is now available to assist hospitals with the application process for The Joint Commission’s (TJC’s) Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification.

The toolkit contains resources from TJC and the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, as well as a verification process checklist and sample presentation slides created by the MHA. These should provide guidance and a step-by-step path throughout the verification process.

The MHA is also hosting office hours virtually from 2 to 3 p.m. every Thursday through June 27. Registration is required and members are asked to register by the end of business the Wednesday prior to a week’s session. Members with questions about the MLC Verification application process are encouraged to attend the sessions.

The deadline to complete the application to be eligible for the state funding is Aug. 1. Hospitals must complete this application and be a Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) participant to receive funds.

The funding comes from an appropriation of $10 million in the fiscal year 2024 state budget to the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services to support maternal health quality improvement efforts. Michigan birthing hospitals have an opportunity to receive funding from $9 million in available general fund dollars to invest in maternal health quality improvement efforts. The remainder of the funds will aid hospitals in obtaining MLC Verification through TJC.

Additional information about funding requirements is available on the MHA MLC webpage.

Members with questions may contact the MHA Keystone Center.

MDHHS Announces $10 Million Maternal Health Reimbursement Opportunity

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced April 22 its intention to reimburse Michigan birthing hospitals for committing to participate in The Joint Commission Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification Program and the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) Collaborative.

In addition to dedicated funding available to cover the hospitals’ cost of the MLC verification, $9 million general fund dollars will be dispersed amongst MI AIM-participating hospitals for fiscal year (FY) 2024. This funding for hospitals is also included in the FY 2025 budget.

To receive funds, hospitals must be a MI AIM participant and complete an application for The Joint Commission’s MLC Verification program by Aug. 1, 2024.

How to Apply for The Joint Commission’s MLC Verification Program

All birthing hospitals in Michigan are eligible, regardless of Joint Commission certification status.

To join MI AIM, members must submit a 2024 Commitment Agreement by email to Laura Houdeshell-Putt.

For more information, members may visit the Michigan MLC Toolkit webpage or contact the MHA Keystone Center.

$10 Million Grant Available for Birthing Hospitals

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The MHA and the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health recently secured a new state grant to support birthing hospitals. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is providing $10 million for hospitals to support the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) work and the cost of The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification program. There is dedicated funding available to cover the hospitals’ cost of the MLC Verification.

Hospitals participating with MI AIM and pursuing MLC verification are eligible to receive a share of $9 million general fund dollars in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This funding for hospitals is also included in the FY 2025 budget.

To receive funds, hospitals must be a MI AIM participant and completed an application for The Joint Commission’s MLC Verification program before Aug. 1, 2024.

The MHA Keystone Center is providing support to hospitals interested in pursuing this new state funding. The MHA will host an informational webinar at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17.

For more information, members may visit the MI AIM Maternal Levels of Care webpage, contact Andrew Syrek at the MHA or watch the presentation from The Joint Commission on the MI AIM webinar.

The Joint Commission Revises Definition of Suicide in Sentinel Event Policy

Member News

The Joint Commission has updated the definition of suicide in its Sentinel Event Policy to include time frames with the highest risk for suicide and highlight the healthcare organization’s continued responsibility for ongoing assessment of the patient as they progress through their treatment plan. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, this revision applies to all Joint Commission accreditation and certification programs (with limited exceptions).

The revised definition of suicide in the Sentinel Event Policy reads Death caused by self-inflicted injurious behavior if any of the following apply:

  • While in a healthcare setting.
  • Within 7 days of discharge from inpatient services.
  • Within 7 days of discharge from emergency department.
  • While receiving or within 7 days of discharge from the following behavioral health care services:
    • Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization Program/Intensive Outpatient Program.
    • Residential.
    • Group home.
    • Transitional supportive living.

The prior definition, which has now been replaced, was:

Suicide of any patient receiving care, treatment, and services in a staffed around the clock care setting or within 72 hours of discharge, including from the health care organization’s emergency department.

Members may visit the Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Policy and Procedures webpage for more information.

Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.