Joint Commission Field Review Addresses Leadership Oversight of Emergency Management

The Joint Commission is soliciting comments from healthcare professionals on proposed new and revised requirements related to leadership oversight of emergency management for hospitals and critical access hospitals, according to standards field review information posted on the agency’s website. The proposed revisions affect the “Emergency Management” and “Leadership” chapters of the hospital and critical access hospital accreditation programs. Specifically, the revisions address the importance of engaging in planning activities prior to developing an emergency operations plan and which staff should be included in evaluations of emergency response exercises.