Understanding JCAHO's continuity requirements.

In assessing how well your organization shares information across the continuum of care, Joint Commission surveyors will conduct "continuity of care" interviews not only with hospital managers and staff, but with representatives from all organizationally or functionally related agencies. During the interview, you must show you have a consistent plan of action for accessing medical records maintained at different locations, including records held by affiliated home health agencies. In addition to interviews, surveyors may assess continuity-of-care issues through documentation review, medical record review, and visits to different patient care settings.