Your Key to the Best EC Information Available!
Environment of Care^® News provides practical, accurate advice on Joint Commission EC standards, plus all the latest developments that affect EC. The following are some of the most popular features in EC News:

• Late-breaking EC standards news and how to meet the most frequently cited EC standards.
• EC Q & A, with authoritative answers to your toughest EC questions.
• Case Studies featuring sccess stories full of practical, hands-on examples of how organizations address EC compliance issues.

To access your current online Environment of Care^® News subscription, click here.

Current Issue

Volume 11, Issue 11 | November 2008

The 2009 Scoring and Accreditation Decision Processes: Standards Improvement Initiative Changes Effective January 1, 2009

EC Requirement: Modifications to the Electronic Statement of Conditions for States Requiring Suspension of Testing Activities

Joint Commission Resources Launches Flu Vaccination Challenge in the Name of Patient Safety: JCR Encourages Hospitals to Help Protect Patients by Promoting Flu Vaccinations for All Health Care Workers

Cleaning and Disinfecting Medical Equipment: A Renewed Focus on Enhancing Patient Safety

Environment of Care^® News is your key to the best information on the environment of care. Twelve issues per year bring you accurate, up-to-the-minute EC standards news, dynamic examples, and tips for survey success for hospitals, critical access hospitals, ambulatory care, office-based surgery practices, long term care, home care, laboratory, and behavioral health care organizations.

In addition to the print version you can also sign up to receive Environment of Care^® News online! Receive each issue right on your computer with a few clicks of your mouse. By signing up for online access, you get

• Speed
  • Get information fast—you'll have access to the online issue before it mails to your organization
  • Receive each issue directly—no more waiting for each issue to make its way through your organization to your desk
• Access
  • Additional information is at your fingertips—click on a hyperlink and go directly to related information anywhere on the World Wide Web
  • Never misplace an issue—you can access current and archive issues online, without taking up space on your desk
• Searchability
  • An online search engine—find articles on a specific topic or for a specific setting
  • Additional help—one click will open up a world of related resources to help you with a particular topic

Executive Editor: Kristine M. Miller, M.F.A.
Senior Project Manager: Christine Wyllie, M.A.
Associate Director, Editorial Development: Diane Bell
Executive Director, Publications: Catherine Chopp Hinckley, Ph.D.
Vice President, Learning: Charles Macfarlane, F.A.C.H.E.

Technical Support and Review provided by Standards Interpretation Group, Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations
Patricia Adamski, R.N., M.S., M.B.A., Director
Jerry Gervais, C.H.F.M., C.H.S.P., Associate Director/Engineer
John D. Maurer, C.H.F.M., C.H.S.P., Associate Director/Engineer
George Mills, F.A.S.H.E., C.H.F.M., C.E.M., M.B.A., Senior Engineer
Charles "Skip" Wilson, M.B.A., Associate Director/Engineer

Division of Standards and Survey Methods
John Fishbeck, R.A., Associate Director

Environment of Care® News Editorial Advisory Board
Tracy L. Buchman, D.H.A. candidate, C.H.S.P., C.H.C.M., University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI
Jen Carlson, M.P.H., M.B.A., Loyola University Health System, Maywood, IL
David P. Klein, P.E., Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC
Michael Kuechenmeister, F.A.S.H.E., C.H.F.M., C.P.E., West Chester Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
John W. McKinney III, Atrium Medical Center, Middletown, OH
William R. (Bill) Morgan, S.A.S.H.E., C.H.F.M., St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise, ID
Jim Riggs, M.P.A., C.S.P., University Health Systems, Greenville, NC
George A. (Skip) Smith, C.H.F.M., S.A.S.H.E., Catholic Health Initiatives, Denver, CO
Thomas S. (Scott) VanDerhoof, Major, U.S.A.F., M.S.C., C.A.A.M.A., Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Office of the Surgeon General, Brooks City-Base, TX

Subscription Information
Environment of Care® News (ISSN http://www.jcrinc.com.1097-9913) is published monthly (twelve times a year) by Joint Commission Resources, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, 

Annual subscription rates for 2008

• United States
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• Canada and Mexico
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Annual subscription rates for 2009

Direct all inquiries to Superior Fulfillment at 800/746-6578. For information about an online site license contact Superior Fulfillment at 800/746-6578. Send address corrections to EC News, Superior Fulfillment, 131 West First Street, Duluth MN 55802-2065.

Copyright 2008 by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Joint Commission Resources, Inc (JCR), a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission, has been designated by The Joint Commission to publish publications and multimedia products. JCR reproduces and distributes the materials under license from The Joint Commission.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any reasons without written permission.

FAQs

Q How can I order Environment of Care® News?
A To order Environment of Care® News, call 800/746-6578, or click here to order online.

Q Can I place my order through a subscription agent?
A Yes, we welcome orders through agencies. Agents, click here [to document from Jera, created by Meghan] for pricing and other information.

Q Who within my organization should subscribe to Environment of Care® News?
A EC News provides information for health care facilities managers, safety directors, biomedical/clinical engineers, emergency readiness coordinators, fire protection personnel, utilities managers, nurse supervisors, and Joint Commission survey coordinators. Infection control staff would also benefit from the expert, timely coverage.

Q What topics does EC News cover?
A EC News covers top stories on
EC standards and survey process;

1. your toughest EC questions;
2. success stories, examples, and tips to help you excel on your next EC survey; and
3. special EC pointers for multiple settings: hospitals, critical access hospitals, ambulatory care, office-based surgery practices, long term care, home care, laboratories, behavioral health care.

Q How often does EC News publish?
A EC News is published 12 times a year by Joint Commission Resources.

Q How far back is the content archived on this site?
A Content goes back to January 2000.

Q Who has access to the online newsletter?
A Paid subscribers only have access to the online and print newsletter.

Q Can you purchase the electronic product by itself?
A Yes, you can subscribe to the online version only.

Q Will I receive a password?
A Yes, when you complete the subscription process, you will receive a user name and password. Please note that you are the only one licensed to use this password.

Q Once your paid subscription expires will you still have access to the online newsletter? If so, for how long?
A Your print and online subscriptions expire at the same time.

Q How can I get a sample issue?
A Call Superior Fulfillment at 800/746-6578 to request a free sample of the latest issue of EC News. Or view a free sample issue here.

Q How can I purchase a past issue?
A Call Superior Fulfillment at 800/746-6578 to order a past issue of EC News or click here to purchase issues or articles via IngentaConnect.

Q Can I make copies of an issue or an article?
A Yes, with permission. Please be aware that a fee might apply under certain circumstances.

Q Once my paid subscription expires will I still have access to the online newsletter? If so, for how long?
A Your print and online subscriptions expire at the same time.

QCan I submit articles?
A Yes. See Author Guidelines below.

QHow can I find past articles on a specific topic?
A Click here to view past issues and topics.

QHow can I change the address or name on my subscription?
A Call Superior Fulfillment at 800/746-6578 to change any subscription information.

Advertising
For information about advertising in the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety or to request a media kit, please contact Robert Reed at reedmedi@sbcglobal.net .

Contact the Editor
Kristine M. Miller, Executive Editor
Joint Commission Resources
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
630/792-5447
630/792-4447 (fax)
ecnews@jcrinc.com

Contact Information for Related Subjects

• About Standards Interpretation
  If you have questions regarding interpretation or clarification of The Joint Commission standards, please contact The Joint Commission's Standards Interpretation Group (SIG) by calling 630/792-5900.
• About Your Online Subscription
  For login and password information for your online subscription, contact Cheryl Firestone, cfirestone@jcrinc.com or call 630/792-5437.
• About Special Orders
  For information about order processing, site licenses, or special sales, contact Superior Fulfillment at 800/746-6578 or fulfill@superfill.com .
• About Reprints
  For reprints of an article or whole issue where the number of copies desired is 100 or more, fill out the Reprints Form. For smaller quantities use the Permissions Form. Articles and whole issues are also available at IngentaConnect for individual purchase.
• About Sharing Your Ideas Do you have
  • An idea for an article?
  • A contact for a case study?
  • An example of an organization "doing the right things right" (maybe even your organization!)?
  • An outstanding and useful form, tool, or checklist?
  • A question that needs answering?
  • A myth or misconception that needs clarification?
  • A hot topic that you want addressed?
  • A crucial issue that needs attention?
  If so, please send your ideas to Environment of Care® News at ecnews@jcrinc.com.

Author Guidelines
Environment of Care® News features timely, practical articles about meeting Joint Commission EC standards. The key EC areas are emphasized, including the management of safety, security, hazardous materials and waste, emergencies, life safety and fire prevention, medical equipment, and utilities.

Your idea should describe your own organization’s noteworthy EC activities or provide specific, hands-on help for EC standards compliance and survey preparation. The opportunity to share an EC success story is open to all types of health care organizations. Do not submit completed articles without first contacting the editor. Once you are given the go-ahead, write your article in an informal, first-person style and provide a brief description of your organization (location, number of beds, types of patients, etc.). Articles should be between 700 and 1,400 words, including any accompanying tables or charts. Please submit your article in a file format compatible with Microsoft Word 6.0 by e-mail to ecnews@jcrinc.com or on CD.

A panel of Joint Commission experts on EC standards and accreditation issues will review each article that is considered suitable for publication. Notification of the editorial decision usually will be provided within one month. Authors should be available to answer the editor’s questions and approve edited copy.

Send all articles to
Kristine M. Miller, Executive Editor
Joint Commission Resources
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
630/792-5447
ecnews@jcrinc.com

For additional information about submission guidelines, please call the editor at 630/792-5447.

Contributors will receive a complimentary copy of the issue of Environment of Care® News in which their article appears. Joint Commission Resources does not pay for article submissions.

To access your current online Environment of Care^® News subscription, click here.

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Reprints
Reprints of a single article may be purchased through the Department of Publications at Joint Commission Resources. To order reprints, please click here.
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Click here to view a sample issue of Environment of Care News.