AOA accrediting program announces new standards

The Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program by the American Osteopathic Association announced it has developed new standards for hospitals to follow during discharge procedures.

Patient safety standards at discharge have become part of the program's surveys effective immediately, with scoring taking effect Sept. 1, 2010, to allow hospitals time to implement new processes, HFAP said in a news release. The new standards include the use of a discharge checklist known as the “Reengineered Hospital Discharge” process to ensure patients receive follow-up care. Those protocols—including a written discharge plan, telephone calls, medication reconciliation, scheduling follow-up appointments and ensuring patients understand instructions—will help decrease errors, HFAP said.

The organization developed the standards using the National Quality Forum's 2009 Safe Practices for Better Healthcare list and the results of a Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality study. The accreditation program recently received continuing deeming authority by the CMS.

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