AMNews: Sept. 30, 2009, 2009. Joint Commission opens center to develop patient safety solutions ... American Medical News

The Joint Commission has been accrediting hospitals since 1953, and in the last two decades stepped up efforts to identify issues that can harm patients, ranging from poorly deployed technology to disruptive behavior. The commission announced in September it will take a more hands-on approach, launching a center that will seek innovative patient-safety interventions.

The new Center for Transforming Healthcare, opened with $10 million in commission reserves, is working with eight hospitals and health systems on its premier project to identify and overcome barriers to 100% hand-hygiene compliance. The commission is teaming up with organizations such as Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles that already use industrial process-improvement techniques borrowed from Motorola and Toyota Motor Corp.

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