TJC Basics
This is the primary purpose of The Joint Commission.
What is to ensure healthcare organizations meet quality and safety standards?
Therapists must perform this action before and after each patient interaction to prevent infections.
What is hand hygiene?
The legal standard states that if documentation is not written, it is considered this.
What is not done?
This is the best way for PTs, OTs, and SLPs to share information about a patient's progress with other providers.
What is through the electronic medical record (EMR) and team meetings?
A patient has the right to refuse therapy under this legal and ethical principle.
What is autonomy?
This is how often The Joint Commission conducts full accreditation surveys.
What is every three years?
This color-coded system alerts staff to specific patient risks, such as fall precautions or allergies.
What are wristbands?
This documentation system is often used to structure patient notes and includes Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.
What is SOAP notes?
The hospital team approach where multiple disciplines work together toward patient-centered goals is known as this.
What is an interdisciplinary care team?
The law that protects patient privacy and governs the sharing of medical information.
What is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)?
The name of the on-site evaluation process used by The Joint Commission to assess compliance with standards
What is the accreditation survey?
PTs, OTs, and SLPs must comply with these precautions when treating patients with infectious diseases like MRSA.
What are standard and transmission-based precautions?
These three key elements should always be documented in a therapy progress note.
What are patient response, measurable progress, and plan for continued care?
When making a therapy recommendation, therapists should ensure they use this type of communication to reduce miscommunication.
What is SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)?
If a therapist suspects elder abuse, this is their ethical and legal obligation.
What is mandatory reporting?
The Joint Commissions list of high-priority safety concerns, updated annually, is called this.
What is the National Patient Safety Goals?
This protocol helps prevent aspiration pneumonia in patients with dysphagia.
What is maintaining proper head positioning and following the diet recommendations of the SLP?
The term used for documenting that a treatment was provided but not medically necessary or skilled-a major compliance risk.
What is upcoding or improper billing?
When an OT and an SLP work together to help a stroke patient regain both fine motor and swallowing skills, it is called this.
What is co-treatment?
This document outlines a patient's wishes regarding medical treatment in case they cannot communicate.
What is an advance directive (or living will)?
This method is used by The Joint Commission to follow a patients journey through care to assess safety and quality.
What is a tracer methodology?
If a patient falls during therapy, this is the first action a therapist should take.
What is assess the patient for injuries?
The timeframe within which documentation must be completed according to most hospital policies and Joint Commission standards.
What is before the end of the shift or within 24 hours?
If a therapist disagrees with a physician's order due to patient safety concerns, this is the appropriate action.
What is escalate the concern using the chain of command?
If a patient lacks decision-making capacity and has no advance directive, this is who typically makes medical decisions.
What is the legally designated healthcare proxy or next of kin?