In a step toward building a deeper relationship with The Joint Commission, several ACEP representatives met with TJC leaders this summer.

The meeting, which took place in TJC’s Chicago office in mid-July, included Joint Commission President Dr. Mark Chassin, Executive Vice President of Accreditation and Certification Operations Ann Scott Blouin, Executive Vice President of Healthcare Quality Evaluation Jerod Loeb, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ana McKee, and Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations Margaret Van Amringe.

ACEP was represented by President Sandra Schneider, President-elect David Seaberg, Executive Director Dean Wilkerson, and EM Practice Department Director Marilyn Bromley.

“I think it speaks volumes that the TJC leaders were willing to give their time to sit down with us and have a conversation,” Dr. Schneider said.

“It is our hope that in the future when standards are developed or processes are considered, the leaders at The Joint Commission will have a better understanding of emergency medicine and come to ACEP to be included in these important decisions that impact our members’ daily practice,” she added.

Key topics discussed during the meeting included patient throughput, boarding, National Patient Safety Goals, medication reconciliations/CMS meaningful use, and procedural sedation credentialing and privileging. Many of these issues have specific exemptions and ramifications in emergency medicine and might require a slightly different look to see the EM perspective when being considered by Joint Commission leaders, Dr. Schneider said.

“The meeting was a success in that we were heard,” she said. “We believe these kinds of meetings will help increase the sensitivities to emergency department issues and will continue to be beneficial to emergency physicians in the long run.”