Profession
JCAHO appoints panel to study cultural issues in hospitals
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 4, 2004
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has established a panel of national experts to help study how hospitals are addressing cultural and linguistic issues that impact the quality and safety of patient care.
The 2½-year project, funded by The California Endowment, will explore what hospitals are doing to address the cultural and linguistic needs of patients. Panel members will advise staff on research tools. The effort will culminate with site visits to about 60 hospitals in 2005 to see what hospitals are doing to tackle the issue.
JCAHO will use information from the study to inform health care practitioners and policy-makers about the state of culturally and linguistically appropriate services in hospitals. Study results also will assist the commission in its efforts to reduce disparities in health care.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/10/04/prbf1004.htm.