TJC and CMS News for the Behavioral Healthcare Industry
March 2020
In This Issue:

Greetings to Our Colleagues in Behavioral Healthcare!
As we work with our clients across the country right now, we know everyone is grappling with the challenges of the Coronavirus. CMS recently posted two memos that will be of interest to our hospital clients. The first is QSO 20-12 regarding Suspension of Survey Activities. The second is QSO 20-13 which provides guidance on Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease.
 
Also, TJC issued an update  this week on their survey activity in light of the Coronavirus. They also have several resources  on their website about What Your Organization Needs to Know about the Coronavirus.
 
Meanwhile, in this month's newsletter, we're providing information on two important topics. The first is feedback from the field on how surveyors are reviewing compliance with NPSG 15 for Suicide Risk Reduction. The second is information and advice on some recent changes to the TJC survey agenda.

We value your feedback on the newsletter. Please send us your comments and tell us what topics you would like to see in future issues. We look forward to hearing from you! And feel free to to your colleagues.

Anne Barrins
President/CEO
Unannounced Mock Surveys 

More and more clients are having us conduct Unannounced Mock Surveys. They find these are the best way to test their capacity to respond and mobilize for their actual TJC survey. Contact Us  now to  schedule yours and get your team ready for the real thing!

1-877-546-7206
Tip of the Month
TJC has an updated FAQ on Environmental Risk Assessment in Non-psychiatric Units/Areas in General Hospitals. Important information for our med/surg hospital clients addressing ligature risks both on their psychiatric units and their non-psychiatric units.
Why Choose
Barrins & Associates?
"We were extremely satisfied with our mock survey by Barrins & Associates. The most helpful aspect was definitely the tracers they conducted. That gave us great insight into what to expect on our upcoming TJC survey. I highly recommend Barrins & Associates to any behavioral healthcare organization getting ready for their TJC survey."
 
Michele Wyatt-Sweeting, MSM, LSS
Quality Assurance Director
Miami, Florida

NPSG 15 Suicide Risk REduction:
Feedback from the Field 
It's now been seven months since the new requirements for NPSG 15 on Suicide Risk Reduction took effect on July 1st. So, how is this important topic playing out on surveys?

First, we know surveyors are ...
Continue Reading > 
TJC Survey: 
Changes to the Survey Agenda
Are you ready for the changes TJC has made to the survey agenda? TJC recently announced "minor modifications" to the survey agenda effective March 1st. Although they're small changes, they do have implications for your onsite survey - and how you manage it. So, best to ...
Continue Reading >       
New Clients
Barrins & Associates is pleased to welcome two new clients:
Longleaf Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana and Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents in New Kent, Virginia. We are pleased to be working with these clients on continuous regulatory readiness.
Learn more about these organization >    
Barrins & Associates provides Joint Commission and CMS consulting services for the Behavioral Healthcare industry. Our clients include psychiatric hospitals and freestanding Behavioral Healthcare organizations. We specialize in providing Survey Preparation and Continuous Survey Readiness services for the Behavioral Healthcare industry. Barrins & Associates was founded by Anne Barrins who was a Joint Commission surveyor for 13 years.

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