A new National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) has been established by the Joint Commission for Leadership (LD) Standard LD.04.03.08 – which addresses health care disparities as a quality and safety priority – for all critical access hospitals and hospitals, as well as ambulatory care organizations and behavioral health care and human services organizations providing certain services, effective July 1, 2023.
Organizations that are Joint Commission-accredited will not have to change their current requirements. The intent of the standard and associated elements of performance will remain the same, but they will now be known as NPSG Goal 16. NPSGs aim to improve patient safety by identifying and addressing significant problems in health care.
The following requirements will still apply to accredited health care organizations:
Identify an individual to lead activities to improve health care equity.
- Assess patients’ health-related social needs.
- Analyze quality and safety data to identify disparities.
- Develop an action plan to improve health care equity.
- Act when the organization does not meet the goals in its action plan.
- Inform key stakeholders about progress to improve health care equity.
It is important to address healthcare disparities in order to ensure that all individuals have access to high-quality healthcare. However, making healthcare disparities a Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal may not be the most effective way to address this issue.
Complexity of the Disparities
First and foremost, healthcare disparities are a complex and multifaceted issue that is not easily addressed by a single national goal. They are influenced by a wide range of factors, including socioeconomics, race and ethnicity, geography, and access to healthcare. Achieving a national goal to eliminate healthcare disparities would require addressing all of these underlying issues, which is a daunting task that would be difficult to accomplish within a short time frame.
Additionally, the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals are focused on improving patient safety and quality of care, and healthcare disparities are not directly related to these goals. While addressing healthcare disparities may have an indirect impact on patient safety and quality of care, it is not the primary focus of these goals.
Worldwide Issue
Furthermore, healthcare disparities are a problem that is not unique to the United States, and addressing them would require a broader, global perspective. The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals are primarily focused on improving healthcare in the United States, and therefore may not be the best avenue for addressing healthcare disparities on a global scale.
Systematic US Healthcare Problem
Another reason healthcare disparities should not be a Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal is that it is a complex and systemic problem that requires a multifaceted approach. The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals tend to focus on specific, measurable actions that can be taken to improve patient care. But healthcare disparities cannot be resolved by implementing a single policy or program. Rather, it requires a comprehensive and coordinated effort that involves a wide range of stakeholders, including healthcare providers, policymakers, community organizations, and patients themselves.
Long-Term Problem
Lastly, healthcare disparities are a continuous and long-term problem. It is not something that can be solved by a short-term goal. Efforts to address healthcare disparities must be sustained over time to ensure that progress is made and maintained. The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals are typically reviewed and updated on a yearly basis, which may not be sufficient to address the long-term nature of healthcare disparities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, healthcare disparities are a complex and multifaceted issue that is not easily addressed by a single national goal. The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals are focused on improving patient safety and quality of care, and healthcare disparities are not directly related to these goals. Furthermore, healthcare disparities are a problem that is not unique to the United States and requires a broader, global perspective, and a multifaceted approach with a long-term commitment. Therefore, healthcare disparities should not be a Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal.