Facts on JCAHO Accreditation for Medical Records

The Joint Commission of Accrediation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) performs on-site visits using written surveys to ensure compliance by health organizations. One area of compliance is reviewing medical records for proper documentation, including physician signatures, service dates and medical treatment. Random medical records are examined by JCAHO staff members before a detailed report is presented to participating health organizations.

History

• The JCAHO was established during the 1950s when the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the American College of Physicians (ACP) joined the American College of Surgeons (ACS) for a standardized program of monitoring health organizations.

Function

• As an accreditation agency, the JCAHO performs occasional physical visits to health organizations to measure how each organization provides well-documented standards of health care based on a checklist. The JCAHO checks for quality to allow health facilities to maintain health accreditation.

Medical Records

• A health organization may take steps to maintain its accreditation status. Each medical record can be well-organized with the proper medical codes, diagnosis and patient names with the correct physician signatures and dates of service.

Considerations

• Health organizations should analyze where their medical records are stored to prevent unauthorized access of sensitive patient data. Preventative measures to ensure unauthorized access may include locked storage rooms. A health facility may face fines and the loss of accreditation status.

Warning

• Health consumers may have access to quality reports, which measure a health organization's performance. One quality area may include medical record documentation such as consultation reports. Otherwise a consumer may choose another health facility.