National Patient Safety Goals for 2008 are announced

AORN Journal, Sept, 2007

The Joint Commission has announced its 2008 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs), which include one new goal and two new requirements as well as modifications to some existing requirements, according to a June 25, 2007, news release from the Joint Commission. The nearly 15,000 Joint Commission-accredited or certified health care organizations and programs must comply with the Joint Commission's requirements to maintain their accreditation or certification.

The new Goal 16 in the 2008 NPSGs and its associated requirement address patients whose conditions are deteriorating. Under the new goal, health care organizations must select a suitable method for enabling caregivers to directly request and obtain assistance from a specially trained individual if and when a patient's condition unexpectedly deteriorates. In addition, there is a new requirement under Goal 3 (ie, "Improve the safety of using medications") that requires organizations to reduce the likelihood of patient harm associated with the use of anticoagulation therapy.

Modifications to existing requirements include the retirement of the requirement to limit and standardize medication concentrations under Goal 3; however, organization compliance will continue to be evaluated as part of the Medication Management standards. In addition, the requirement addressing hand hygiene under Goal 7 (ie, "Reduce the risk of health care-associated infections") has been expanded to permit use of the World Health Organization Hand Hygiene Guideline as an alternative to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hand hygiene guidelines. For more information on the 2008 NPSGs and related requirements, visit the Joint Commission web site at http://www.jointcommission.org.

The Joint Commission announces 2008 National Patient Safety Goals [news release]. Oakbrook Terrace, IL: The Joint Commission; June 25, 2007.