NAMES IN THE NEWS

Update on Offsite Surveys, Reviews from The Joint Commission

JANUARY 2021

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Joint Commission (TJC) of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, stopped most onsite surveys and reviews last year from March 16–May 31. During that time, TJC developed processes for conducting offsite—formally called “virtual”—events, according to a recent news brief on Joint Commission Online, a weekly online newsletter from the organization.

As of mid-December 2020, the accreditation organization had conducted more than 1,200 offsite surveys and reviews across all accreditation and certification programs.

Currently, not all programs or organizations are eligible for an offsite event, according to the news brief. For example, some states have restrictions on allowable offsite processes. As the pandemic progressed, so did the eligibility criteria allowing for more offsite events. TJC conducted these offsite surveys and reviews for eligible organizations located in counties at higher risk of COVID-19 transmission. If an organization were in a county determined to be at a lower risk of transmission, an onsite survey or review could be scheduled.

TJC will send specific outreach to organizations eligible for an offsite event notifying them of their eligibility, according to the news brief.

To determine interest in participating in an offsite event, TJC sent an email on December 18, 2020, to Joint Commission Online subscribers announcing the use of a Qualtrics survey and confirming TJC as the communication’s source. According to the news brief, the response to this communication was tremendous and the commission sent more than 1,700 Qualtrics surveys to organizations meeting offsite eligibility criteria.

A member of TJC’s staff will contact an organization that meets the criteria for an offsite survey or review through either the Qualtrics survey, email or phone call. Following this initial outreach, TJC will schedule a test of the technology. If an organization has not yet been contacted, it is likely because the organization is not currently eligible for this type of event.

TJC will continue to monitor offsite eligibility criteria and will extend offsite opportunities to more organizations as criteria allows, according to the news brief. Write TJC with questions about the offsite survey and review process.