JCAHO

Haven't posted for a while but thought this would be a sort of interesting quick topic. We all have heard of the governing boards and organizations that watch over the medical field, but we don't come in to contact with them often. I am currently at Rush-Copley in Aurora, IL and guess who showed up! JCAHO. The Joint Commission has these standards and rules, and fines are given out if they see or you are turned in for breaking one of their rules. For instance, recapping a bloody needle - $1000 fine (one of the surgeons in MI told me that one.) It is important for the safety of your patients, but also for your safety.

Apparently JCAHO was in our hospital for 2 days, and decided to "follow" our heart patient, an AVR patient. We were warned they would probably stop in to the OR at some point so of course the entire OR was "freaking out". Worried they would stop the nurses while the case was going on and ask them questions, or they would try talking to us while we were on pump, or interrupt the surgeon while he was at work. Well, first hand experience, and a little research...they actually aren't allowed to "bother" us while we are actually at work doing our job, especially in our case, we are on pump and think about it, if they interrupted us to ask a question and something goes wrong with the patient, lets just say they don't want to be blamed for that. So just keep in mind that when they are in the room, they are not their alone, someone is with them at all times typically the ones answering questions (charge nurse or chief of surgery or someone with more authority), and they aren't going to be talking to you. In fact our surgeon is a chatty cathy and he tried talking to the JCAHO guy and they guy waved his hand saying "Pretend I'm not here." So don't be nervous, and don't recap dirty needles in front of them either!

-Malia