On May 3, 2023, The Joint Commission released its latest revisions to the Standards applicable to its Critical Access Hospital Accreditation Program. These revisions became effective on June 1, 2023. There is one small change that may have slipped by organizations.
Standard RI 01.06.03 previously read:
The patient has the right to be free from neglect, exploitation, and verbal, mental, physical, and sexual abuse.
The revised RI 01.06.03 standard now reads:
The patient has the right to be free from harassment, neglect, exploitation, and verbal, mental, physical, and sexual abuse.
Organizations need to begin by determining the definition of harassment that will be applied as The Joint Commission Critical Access Accreditation Manual does not contain a definition of harassment that must be applied.
Please contact Courtemanche and Associates for questions and regulatory assistance at 704-573-4535 or info@courtemanche-assocs.com.