The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care, has made changes to its Emergency Management (EM) chapter for all accredited ambulatory care organizations and office-based surgery practices. The changes are effective from July 1, 2024. Community health centers, seeking to obtain or maintain their TJC accreditation, should be aware of the following:

1. Changes for FQHCs /RHCs: There will no longer be requirements specific to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). FQHCs will follow the EM requirements on the applicability grid for either medical centers or dental centers, as applicable. Rural health clinics (RHCs) accredited under the ambulatory care program will follow the EM requirements identified by the lead-in for RHCs, beginning at Standard EM.02.01.01 and ending at Standard EM.04.01.01, until further notice.
2. Revised EM Standards: TJC analyzed and rewrote the EM chapter. This has resulted in reorganized requirements, renumbered standards, and a reduction in the elements of performance (EPs) by more than 40% for ambulatory care organizations. This revised chapter now follows the same structure TJC had previously rolled out for hospitals and other organization types.
3. Focus Areas: The new and revised EM requirements clarify and emphasize the following:
   • Assessment, applicability, and incorporation of the hazard vulnerability analysis throughout the EM chapter.
   • Leadership involvement and oversight in all aspects of the EM program.
   • Staff education and training, with specific guidance for initial and ongoing EM training.
4. Changes to Specific Standards: Information Management (IM) Standard IM.01.01.03, EPs 5 and 6 (i.e., implementing a system of medical documentation that preserves patient information during an emergency), will be deleted from the ambulatory care requirements.

In addition to EM, the Joint Commission also announced its revised requirements for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), as well as new and revised workplace violence prevention requirements for accredited behavioral health care and human services (BHC) organizations. For more information and to access these and other prepublication standards, click here.