The Joint Commission this week announced a new Telehealth Certification Program for qualified hospitals, behavioral health organizations and ambulances.
This program, effective July 1, is designed to provide updated and more streamlined standards to help organizations providing telehealth services adopt structures and processes to help provide higher quality and safer virtual care
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
The new Telehealth Certification Program has been developed specifically for healthcare organizations that exclusively provide care, treatment and services via telehealth, the Commission said.
The new program’s requirements are similar to other Joint Commission certifications, such as requirements for information management, patient identification, medication administration, and certification and privileges.
However, there are specific requirements for the new accreditation program, such as reasonable emergency management requirements to address the provision of clinical care and support remotely rather than in a Realistic buildings.
Additionally, there are new standards – which can be filtered based on modality or service provided – for provider and patient education on the use of telemedicine platforms and devices – as well as other new standards focus on devices, appliances, and virtual care connectivity.
According to the Joint Commission, hospitals and health systems that have a written agreement to provide care, treatment and services via telehealth to another institution’s patients have the option of applying for new certification. , according to the Joint Commission, which will also replace existing telemedicine and technology certifications in its Ambulance. Health Care and Behavioral Health and Human Services programs.
BIGGER TREND
The independent, nonprofit Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest (founded in 1951) and largest health care accreditation and standards-setting agency, accrediting and certifying more than 22,000 organizations. health care organizations and programs across the United States.
In recent decades, one of its big focuses has been health information technology, such as EHR safety features, handover alerts, patient education, clinical quality metrics, medical degree, etc
ON PROFILE
“Usage of telehealth in the United States increased 154% during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and stabilized at exponentially high levels,” said Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, president and CEO of The Joint. 38 times compared to 2019″. Commission in a statement.
“As telehealth continues to evolve, it is imperative to create a new certification program to provide a framework that supports the integrity of patient safety regardless of the care setting,” he added. “Our new Telehealth Certification program helps organizations standardize care and minimize risk, so all patients, including those receiving services remotely, receive the safest, highest quality care with outcomes consistent with traditional settings.”
Mike Miliard is the executive editor of Healthcare IT News
Email the writer: [email protected]
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.
