Oh, it's simple things like fines, and suspending their right to accept Medicare patients for pay. That's a big penalty, because it adversely affects a hospital's ability to make money, so most hospitals will do everything they can to get into compliance. But don't expect that being in compliance with JCAH regs means that the fundamental philosophy of the hospital will change. It just means that the hospital's management team will do what they have to do to get their paperwork in order, so things look good on paper.

It's all just a meaningless dance anyway. JCAH (or the State Health Department) does their survey, cites the deficiencies they found, and writes a report. The hospital, under the guidance of highly paid consultants, will write a plan of correction, and will argue with the surveyors about the more serious deficiencies, hoping to get them knocked down to less serious violations. The surveying agency then accepts the plan of correction, and returns for a re-survey to see if the hospital is back in compliance (and usually they are). Everything is peachy-keen again until the next survey, when they start the dance all over again.

thanks


Thank you for reply Ginger.
It sheds some light on this whole jcaho deal which has been going on
strongly for the past three years at my workplace, eventhough I've been
working there for over eighteen years. Thanks again.
NORSO BORICUA [/i]