Joint Commission Launches Health Care Staffing Services Certification Program

(Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. – October 7, 2004) The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations today officially launched its certification program for health care staffing firms. 

Over 100 health care staffing firms have expressed their intent to seek health care staffing services certification from the Joint Commission.

"The Joint Commission is launching the Health Care Staffing Services Certification Program to provide national standards, a credible process of external evaluation and performance improvement resources for the health care staffing field," says Charles A. Mowll, executive vice president of Business Development, Government and External Relations.  The ongoing shortages of nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals have forced health care organizations to increasingly fill positions with temporary workers through contractual arrangements with staffing firms.  The Joint Commission certification program offers an independent, comprehensive evaluation of a staffing firm's abilities to provide competent staffing services.

Standards for the health care staffing services program are posted on the Joint Commission's website. 

The standards were developed with input from an expert task force that also guided the development of the review process and performance measurement requirements for the new program. Standards address topics such as:

• Credentials verification
• Competency assessment
• Staff placement
• Monitoring staff and service performance

"Staffing firms and the health care organizations that rely on them are seeking new methods for demonstrating a commitment to providing and continuously improving quality services," says Michele Sacco, executive director of Health Care Staffing Services Certification, Joint Commission.  "The Joint Commission's national program offers health care providers a third-party source of information to assist them in making choices among staffing firms and supports efforts to improve the quality and quality of care delivered to their patients.  Highly sought after health care professionals can also have confidence that certified firms adhere to rigorous national standards and are committed to continuously improving business practices."

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