New JCAHO standards require integrated patient safety program.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is getting mostly positive reviews on its recently approved standards focused on patient safety and medical error reduction in hospitals. But experts warn that integrating these new standards into existing safety protocols will be no easy task. The new standards augment the nearly 50% of current Joint Commission standards related to patient safety. Requirements for establishing ongoing patient safety programs in organizations accredited under the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals will be added in the areas of leadership, management of information, and other functions.