Proposed Changes to JCAHO Emergency Management Standards

Proposed Changes to JCAHO Emergency Management Standards

JCAHO is seeking comments on proposed revisions to the Emergency Management Standards that would require organizations to establish a more rigorous emergency management plan in response to communitywide emergencies. The proposed standards revisions emphasize a scalable approach to emergency management. These revisions would establish specific operational requirements for planning a flexible response to emergencies that could affect a single organization, multiple organizations or an entire community or region.

The proposed revisions are applicable to 24/7 facility-based care settings. Thus, the field review seeks input on the proposed revisions from these healthcare facilities.

Proposed revisions to the Emergency Management Standards can be viewed at: http://www.jointcommission.org/AccreditationPrograms/Hospitals/Standards/FieldReview/em_stds_fr.htm Comments also can be made through January 19, 2007, by going to the same Web page.