R3 Report Issue 28: Resuscitation Standards for Critical Access Hospitals
Effective January 1, 2022, new and revised requirements related to resuscitation care will be applicable to Joint Commission-accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs). The requirements aim to strengthen resuscitation and post-resuscitation care processes in hospitals and CAHs by bringing the standards in closer alignment with contemporary guidelines and evidence. Despite improvements in resuscitation outcomes nationally over the past two decades, survival after in-hospital cardiac arrest varies widely across and within hospitals. The revised standards on resuscitation care address several interlinked factors that have been cited as critical to resuscitation performance; namely, the quality of hospital personnel training, adherence to evidence-based protocols, collection of data, and the implementation of internal quality control and case review mechanisms. Overall, the revised standards are intended to reduce unnecessary variations in practice and encourage hospitals to adopt a more proactive and responsive approach to resuscitation and post-resuscitation care to maximize patient survival with the best possible neurological outcomes.
Engagement with stakeholders, accredited organizations, and experts
The Joint Commission obtained guidance from the following groups:
- Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) of resuscitation experts from various health care and academic organizations, professional associations, and leading institutions.
- Standards Review Panel (SRP) of clinicians and administrators who provided a “boots on the ground” point of view and insights into the practical application of the proposed standards.
- American Heart Association (AHA) staff
- Stakeholders from accredited critical access hospitals, government/regulatory agencies, and professional organizations during two public comment periods or “field reviews” in 2020-2021.
The prepublication version of the resuscitation requirements will be available online until the end of December 2021. After January 1, 2022, please access the new requirement in the E-dition or standards manual.