Joint Commission Infection Control Standards Challenge Home Care Providers, Nursing Care Centers

As we recently reported, ambulatory healthcare organizations and office-based surgery practices accredited by The Joint Commission have struggled mightily to comply with some infection control standards. This is apparent from The Joint Commission's release of its most challenging requirements for the first half of 2019.

These organizations are not alone. Home care providers and nursing care centers also had infection control requirements identified most frequently as "not compliant" during Joint Commission surveys and reviews from January through June.

For home care providers, IC.02.01.01 (The organization implements the infection prevention and control activities it has planned.) had the second highest non-compliance percentage at 43%. It only trailed PC.01.03.01 (The organization plans the patient's care.), which had a reported 58% non-compliance.

For nursing care centers, IC.02.01.01 (The organization implements its infection prevention and control plan.) came in third at 29% non-compliance. It only trailed HR.02.01.04 (The organization permits licensed independent practitioners to provide care, treatment and services.) at 36% and MM.03.01.01 (The organization safely stores medications.) at 30% non-compliance.

If your organization requires assistance with CMS and/or accreditation survey preparation, call on the expert consultants at Infection Control Consulting Services (ICCS). If your organization recently underwent a survey that revealed deficiencies, contact ICCS to learn about our services for developing a plan of correction.

Study: Surgical Masks Match Respirators for Respiratory Virus Protection

The results of a new study indicate that surgical masks are as effective as respirator-type masks in protecting healthcare workers from influenza and other respiratory viruses.

The randomized clinical trial involving more than 2,800 healthcare personnel at 137 outpatient sites compared the use of surgical/medical masks to N95 respirators.

The results, which were published in JAMA, revealed no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed flu between the pieces of protection.

Dr. Trish Perl, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the report's senior author stated in a news release, "This finding is important from a public policy standpoint because it informs about what should be recommended and what kind of protective apparel should be kept available for outbreaks.”

Furthermore, as the news release noted, the mask only costs about a dime while N95 costs around $1. 

The study was performed at multiple medical settings in several U.S. cities, including Houston, Denver, Washington and New York. Participating researchers came from the University of Texas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Johns Hopkins University, the University of Colorado, Children's Hospital Colorado, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Florida and several Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Researchers collected data during four flu seasons between 2011 and 2015.

Outpatient Facilities Struggling With Joint Commission Infection Control Standards

The Joint Commission has released its top 10 challenging standards through the first half of 2019 for accredited ambulatory healthcare organizations and office-based surgery practices. High on both lists are multiple infection control standards.

These are requirements identified most frequently as "not compliant" during surveys and reviews from January through June.

For ambulatory healthcare organizations, infection control standards take two of the top three spots on the list. IC.02.02.01 (The organization reduces the risk of infections associated with medical equipment, devices and supplies.) is first with a reported 60% non-compliance. Coming in third is IC.02.01.01 (The organization implements infection prevention and control activities.) with 52% non-compliance.).

The non-infection control standard rounding out the top three is LS 03.01.35 (The organization provides and maintains equipment for extinguishing fires.), which came in second with a reported 56% non-compliance.

The same infection control standards in the top three for ambulatory healthcare organizations are in the top three most challenging for office-based surgery practices. IC.02.02.01 is second with a reported 56% non-compliance. Coming in third is IC.02.01.01 with 30% non-compliance.

HR.02.01.03 (The organization grants initial, renewed, or revised clinical privileges to individuals who are permitted by law and the organization to practice independently.) took the first spot with 61% non-compliance.

Two other infection control standards appear on the office-based surgery practices list and are tied with several other standards as the sixth most challenging with a reported 22% non-compliance: IC.01.03.01 (The organization identifies infection risks based on the following: Its geographic location, community and population served.) and IC.02.04.01 (The organization facilitates staff receiving the influenza vaccination.).

It comes as no surprise to see infection control standards proving difficult for outpatient organizations. These requirements were also some of the most challenging from 2018 and reflect ongoing observations made by ICCS infection control consultants during on-site visits.