The Joint Commission (TJC’s) standard MM.09.01.01 requires hospitals to have an antimicrobial stewardship program that is based on current scientific literature. This Medication Management standard became effective January 1, 2017.
An Element of Performance within MM.09.01.01 requires that hospitals provide education for patients/families on the appropriate use of antimicrobial medications, including antibiotics. In a recent Joint Commission standard FAQ, TJC clarified that patient education is not required for all who are prescribed antimicrobials. According to TJC, “… patients receiving prescribed antimicrobials upon discharge from a hospital or ambulatory clinic (surveyed under the hospital program) are the only individuals who should be provided education on antimicrobial medications.”
TJC further clarifies that certain populations will be the focus of surveyors for this standard including:
- Emergency department patients who are prescribed antimicrobials
- Ambulatory and clinic patients surveyed under the hospital program who are prescribed antimicrobials
- Hospitalized patients who will be discharged on antimicrobials
However, according to TJC, patients or family members are not going to be interviewed by surveyors regarding education provided on the appropriate use of prescribed antimicrobials.
TJC highlights the CDC education tool, You’ve Been Prescribed an Antibiotic Now What? as a helpful resource for hospitals. Additional tools from the CDC include: Viruses or Bacteria – What’s got you sick? and Get Smart for Healthcare.
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