The new accreditation participation requirements on the Focused Standards Assessment (FSA), the new name of the periodic performance review, are available on The Joint Commission website, according to the July 27 Joint Commission Online e-newsletter. The requirements will become effective Jan. 1, 2012, for the ambulatory care, behavioral health care, home care, hospital, laboratory services and long-term care programs. The new name more appropriately reflects an emphasis on an organization's assessment combined with the Joint Commission's knowledge of high-risk areas that are critical to patient safety and quality, the Joint Commission says. The FSA is part of a broad initiative called the intracycle monitoring process which will focus on activities to help identify risk points in health care organizations along with resources for addressing patient safety and quality.

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