The national commission that accredits hospitals — and makes hospital managers shake in their shoes every three years when it comes time for re-accreditation and the accompanying hospital inspection surveys — is developing a new set of standards which hospitals must strive to meet.
Armed with a grant from The Commonwealth Fund, the Joint Commission this month began developing “accreditation standards for hospitals that will promote, facilitate and advance the provision of culturally competent patient-centered care.”
The Joint Commission is essentially trying to figure out how hospitals can competently treat patients who have cultural differences that are important to them (Muslim women, for example?), language and literacy issues (Spanish speaking populations, for example?).
The group, which is seeking panel members to help define these standards, has set a target date of 2011 for hospitals to begin complying with the new rules.
I wonder how important this might be in Wichita? Should hospitals take on cultural issues for better patient satisfaction and — as the commission suggests — care? My guess is is the better people communicate with one another, the more successful the outcomes.