Volume 13, Issue 5 | September/October 2011

SPECIAL ISSUE: ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES
The Joint Commission Sets the Bar for Performance Measurement with Accountability Measures
In June 2010, The Joint Commission developed a new performance measurement framework centered on accountability measures. This article defines accountability measures, explains the criteria used to define these, and presents a complete list of the current accountability measures. The article also presents an overview of the various facets of the accountability measures initiative, including a new standard and element of performance that sets a standards-based expectation for minimum performance on ORYX accountability measures and the resulting changes to on-site surveys and the Requirement for Improvement process. The article also describes new programs that have been developed to support the accountability measures initiative, including the Core Measure Solution Exchange, the Top Performers on Joint Commission Key Quality Measures program, and R3 Reports.

Top Performers on Joint Commission Key Quality Measures Program: Rewarding Achievement, Inspiring Excellence
In June 2010, The Joint Commission initiated a multifaceted accountability measures initiative that seeks to improve hospital performance on these measures, with the ultimate goal of improving patient safety. In September 2011, The Joint Commission launched a new program to formally recognize hospitals and critical access hospitals that consistently demonstrate excellent performance on accountability measures—the Top Performers on Joint Commission Key Quality Measures program. This article describes the program, explains the criteria used to determine eligibility, and provides examples of how eligibility is calculated. A complete list of the 2010 recipients is also included as a special insert.

Core Measure Solution Exchange: Real-World Solutions for Real-World Performance Improvement
In June 2010, The Joint Commission initiated a multifaceted accountability measures initiative that seeks to improve hospital performance on these measures, with the ultimate goal of improving patient safety. To assist health care organizations, The Joint Commission launched the Core Measure Solution Exchange, a complimentary tool available to accredited organizations designed to help them share best practices, solutions, and tools to improve their performance on core measures. This article describes the Exchange and its features, including how organizations can search for solutions, receive notifications of new solutions, and rate the posted solutions. The article also summarizes the solutions that have been posted to date and presents examples of solutions.