The July 1 deadline for the new Joint Commission standards is approaching fast and hospitals need to get to work on satisfying those standards now in order to avoid consequences ranging from accreditation risk to associated revenue loss.

DOTmed News had the opportunity to speak with Dominic Siewko, director of clinical dose management at Philips Healthcare, about how hospitals can prepare for these new standards and what this will mean for the patients. He also gives his opinion on what standards are the most important to focus.

DOTmed News: How can hospitals prepare for the new Joint Commission standards?
Dominic Siewko: While the July 1 deadline is just around the corner, hospitals still have time to prepare if they start now. There are several strategies hospitals can employ today to avoid a costly and resource-consuming scramble at the last minute.

The first step is for hospitals to set a precedent for tracking, analyzing and mitigating radiation risk for both patients and clinicians. This can be overwhelming, if hospitals don’t have the right tools and technologies to manage these efforts automatically.

A recent study by the American Journal of Roentgenology shows that radiation dose reporting processes that rely on manual data entry are not only unreliable, but can also lead to compliance errors. Making an investment in the right technology today will ensure hospitals are ready.

Health care providers should deeply familiarize themselves with the five key requirements that Joint Commission is requiring and use to enhance or develop their department radiation protection program.

Another step hospitals can take is to begin working with manufacturers who are committed to the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) Smart Dose XR-29 standard. MITA has established industry best practices for radiation dose equipment that meet its requirements to lower dose and make imaging safer.

DOTmed News: Do you think most hospitals will be ready to implement the standards in July?

DS: Is it possible, yes, but hospitals will need to start taking action today. Compliance with radiation dose standards will ultimately help drive market shares for hospitals. The sooner they begin to act on it, the better.

Hospitals also face potential repercussions of failing to meet these standards, including accreditation risk and associated revenue loss. More and more patients will be asking for transparency around radiation dose levels. Patients are now more educated than ever, with a wealth of information available to them via the Internet and mainstream publications.

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