Antimicrobial Stewardship Program

QUESTION:

Are Joint Commission accredited hospitals required to have antimicrobial stewardship programs?

ANSWER:

Yes.  Under the new Medication Management standard MM.09.01.01, hospitals are required to have an antimicrobial stewardship program.  This standard is effective as of January 1, 2017.

The Joint Commission requires that a hospital’s antimicrobial stewardship program:

• Is developed by a multidisciplinary team
• Has a single leader responsible for the program’s outcomes
• Appoints single pharmacist as the leader who is responsible or working to improve antibiotic use
• Is based on current scientific literature
• Is built around the core elements indentified in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs
• Includes education programs for staff that address antimicrobial ordering, dispensing, administration, and monitoring
• Includes education programs for families about the appropriate use of antimicrobial medications, including antibiotics
• Is monitored, analyzed and findings reported to clinicians; performance improvement opportunities are identified and implemented
• Uses organization-approved multidisciplinary policies and procedures/protocols

Related Products from MCN Healthcare:

Pharmacy and Medication Management Manual

 

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