2012 National Patient Safety Goals Now in Effect
The goals took effect Jan. 1. A new one this year is focused on catheter-associated urinary tract infections for the hospital and critical access hospital accreditation programs.
The Joint Commission's 2012 National Patient Safety Goals became effective Jan. 1 and are available both in full text and in easy-to-read versions on the commission's website.
The 2012 goals continue a program that began in 2002; the first set of goals took effect Jan. 1, 2003. This year that is one new goal that is focused on catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) for the hospital and critical access hospital accreditation programs.
The goals for hospitals concern correct identification of patients, improved staff communications, safe use of medicines, infection prevention, identification of patient safety risks, and prevention of surgical mistakes. For more information about the new CAUTI goal, visit the Prepublication Standards section.
Patient safety experts advise the commission on the development and updating of the goals, which were established to help accredited organizations address specific areas of concern in regards to patient safety, according to the commission.