Joint Commission International (JCI) has developed International Patient Safety Goals, which were adapted from the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals . Since January 2006, JCI has surveyed international hospitals for compliance with the goals as a way to evaluate the relevance and feasibility of the goals for international hospitals. The survey findings currently do not affect the hospitals’ accreditation decisions. The results of surveys conducted in the first months of 2006 will be used to decide whether to proceed with full implementation of the International Patient Safety Goals as accreditation requirements for 2007.
2006 International Patient Safety Goals
Goal 1. Identify Patients Correctly
1a. Use at least two (2) ways to identify a patient when giving medicines, blood, or blood products; taking blood samples and other specimens for clinical testing; or providing any other treatments or procedures. The patient’s room number cannot be used to identify the patient.
Goal 2. Improve Effective Communication
2a. Implement a process/procedure for taking verbal or telephone orders, or for the reporting of critical test results, that requires a verification “read-back” of the complete order or test result by the person receiving the information.
Note: Not all countries permit verbal or telephone orders.
Goal 3. Improve the Safety of High-Alert Medications
3a. Remove concentrated electrolytes (including, but not limited to, potassium chloride, potassium phosphate, sodium chloride >0.9%) from patient care units.
Goal 4. Eliminate wrong-site, wrong-patient, wrong-procedure surgery
4a. Use a checklist, including a “time-out” just before starting a surgical procedure, to ensure the correct patient, procedure, and body part.
4b. Develop a process or checklist to verify that all documents and equipment needed for surgery are on hand and correct and functioning properly before surgery begins.
4c. Mark the precise site where the surgery will be performed. Use a clearly understood mark and involve the patient in doing this.
Note: Hospitals in many countries have downloaded the Universal Protocol and are using it. Because the Universal Protocol is a set of three complementary, evidence-based practices that together will prevent wrong-site surgery, please note that protocols 4a through 4c of these International Patient Safety Goals are the same as the requirements for the Universal Protocol.
Goal 5. Reduce the risk of health care–associated infections.
5a. Comply with current published and generally accepted hand hygiene guidelines. Note: This should recognize that not all countries have an agency that is equivalent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or may not recognize guidelines of the U.S. CDC.
Goal 6. Reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from falls.
6a. Assess and periodically reassess each patient’s risk for falling, including the potential risk associated with the patient’s medication regimen, and take action to decrease or eliminate any identified risks.