Recent Articles
CMS releases final hospital/CAH CoPs
Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the final rule reforming the Hospital/CAH CoPs. This rule is available on display copy only and will publish officially to the Federal Register on May 16th. The DC office is in the process of completing a thorough review of the final rule and will pull a team together to discuss the provisions, and will provide a comparative analysis of the final provisions to the comments that Joint Commission submitted.
JCR launches JCCAP certification program
Last week while we were in Orlando preparing for the AHAP conference, Joint Commission Resources (JCR) announced the release of the Joint Commission Certified Accreditation Professional (JCCAP) program, a professional certification program designed specifically for Joint Commission accreditation professionals.
To get the JCCAP credential, accreditation professionals must pass an exam on topics surrounding The Joint Commission accreditation standards and processes. The exam focuses on the standards areas of Medical Staff, Environment of Care, and Leadership, as well as patient safety, ongoing performance and organizational analysis, and requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) related to hospitals.
Eligibility for the JCCAP includes:
- Baccalaureate degree or higher and current employment at a hospital or healthcare organization/system for a minimum of two years; or an associate’s degree or RN and five years experience in an accreditation preparation, assistance, coordination, management or maintenance role
- Current job description of the applicant
- Letter confirming current position and responsibilities from an organization executive
- Maintaining certification requires 30 JCR continuing education credits during the three-year certification period, or successfully completing the recertification exam and 10 continuing education credits.
Application opens on September 5, 2012, and the exam will be offered quarterly, starting in January 2013. Visit Joint Commission Resources for a more information.
Certification programs are a great way to distinguish and recognize the accreditation profession and achieve individual professional growth. Did you know that the Certified Specialist in Healthcare Accreditation (CSHA) certification program covers all accrediting bodies and accepts a wide range of continuing education credits (JCR, HCPro, IHI, and more)? Click here to read more about the CSHA certification program.
Wrapping up another year
Another great year at the annual AHAP Conference. We’re about to listen to our last pair of breakout sessions before everyone heads home to share what they’ve heard this year. Make sure to check back on Monday for conference roundups, more photos, announcements, and more.
We’ll leave you with a quite moment between seminars:
Kicking off Day 2 at AHAP
Day 2 of the 6th Annual AHAP Conference has officially begun with a lively session by Suzanne Richards.
AHAP Conference Update: Life Safety discussion
National Life Safety Code ® expert Brad Keyes is on hand this year to discuss what every accreditation professional needs to know about LSC.
AHAP Conference kicks off in Orlando!
The 6th Annual AHAP Conference is officially underway!
Jean Clark (L) and Jodi Eisenberg begin Day 1 with the opening presentation.
Associate Director Jackie Beck welcomes the attendees to this year’s AHAP Conference.
HCPro celebrates National Nurses Week!
May 6 through May 12 marks the celebration of National Nurses Week, an annual event to recognize the contributions of nurses throughout the country. In honor of Nurses Week, HCPro will feature a different special offer each day, including discounts, giveaways, and contests.
To kick off Nurses Week, HCPro is giving away a free white paper on nursing image, which comes with one free Nursing Continuing Education (CE) credit.
Click here for your free Image of Nursing White Paper and free CE.
Every day this week, there will be a special Nurses Week promotion. Watch out for discounts on a variety of nursing products, contests with prizes, and more. Visit The Leader’s Lounge blog each day of Nurses Week to learn about the newest offer!
Following the conference
AHAP’s annual conference takes place this week, Thursday, May 10 and Friday, May 11. Keep an eye on this space for updates and photos from Orlando!
Are you planning on being in attendance? Send us your observations or comments and we will be happy to share them with the other members here on the AHAP Blog. Feel free to send any thoughts or photos you would like to share to mphillion@hcpro.com to have them posted to the blog.
Looking to network while you’re in Orlando? Let your fellow members know on the AHAP Talk Group and find out which of your fellow members are also hoping to meet up and talk shop!
Franklin Award of Distinction winner announced
The Joint Commission and the American Case Management Association (ACMA) have announced this year’s winner of the Franklin Award of Distinction: Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier, CA. The award was announced at the 2012 ACMA Conference in Denver, CO.
“Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital’s team-based care model, which includes proactive daily rounds with the patient care team at the bedside, distinctively characterized their case management service,” said L. Greg Cunningham, MHA, CEO, ACMA, in a prepared statement. “The hospital’s investment in social medicine with post-hospital discharge clinics and dedicated staff in the homeless shelter are evidence of the organization’s community commitment and the recognition of patients’ and case management’s needs.”
The award, named for Benjamin Franklin, highlights organizations for their leadership and forward-thinking approach–much like its namesake. For more information on the award itself, visit here.
New award for hospital infection prevention champions
Have you heard about the new award sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, recognizing leaders in HAI prevention?
The Partnership for Prevention Award identifies sustained imporvement in preventing HAIs based on he National Action Plan to Prevent Infections.
Applications will be accepted through August 1, 2012, and the award will be prevented on October 15.
To apply for the award, click here.
