BURLINGTON (VT) -- Fletcher Allen Health Care announced today that it has received full accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) -- a national organization that sets standards for health care and accredits hospitals throughout the United States.

JCAHO surveyed Fletcher Allen in May and cited the organization for six requirements for improvement (RFI) that require follow-up.  None of the RFIs were in the area of patient safety. Currently, the national average for RFIs among surveyed health care organizations has been in the teens.

Six surveyors -- a physician, a nurse, two administrators, a pharmacist and a behavioral health specialist - conducted an extensive onsite review. The purpose of the review is to evaluate an organization's performance in all areas that affect the quality of patient care. Fletcher Allen's health care services, from surgical procedures to housekeeping practices, were evaluated against JCAHO standards.

In recent years, particularly since a 1999 report on medical errors and patient safety released by the Institute of Medicine, JCAHO has adopted a more patient-safety focus in conducting its surveys.

This year, JCAHO made two fundamental changes. First, the survey was changed to focus on the way in which different types of patients received care rather than asking health care staff about their knowledge of JCAHO standards.  The new survey process more accurately mirrors how a patient moves through a health care system and is thought to be a better measure of how an organizations' processes and procedures support patient care.

The other change altered the accreditation scoring and review cycle. Rather than receiving a score on the basis of 1-100, and an accreditation for three years, JCAHO now issues an accreditation based on the number of RFIs accrued during the survey.   JCAHO also reserves the right to conduct an unannounced survey at any time.

The surveyors praised Fletcher Allen's staff for their commitment to patient care, recognizing Fletcher Allen for the interdisciplinary teamwork evident in its performance improvement activities. They also praised the processes Fletcher Allen has in place for reviewing any surgical complications that arise.

The surveyors' RFIs highlighted opportunities for improvement in: documentation, storage and processing of medications, and compliance with life safety codes.

In response, Fletcher Allen has provided definitive action plans and progress reports describing its improvement efforts in those areas, to ensure that it is continuously in compliance with JCAHO standards.

Hospital accreditation is voluntary and is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that indicates an organization meets certain performance standards. This process is one way Fletcher Allen works to improve the quality of patient care, educate staff on enhancing performance, and meet requirements for Medicare reimbursements.

Accreditation also is needed for Fletcher Allen's Graduate Medical Program accreditation and for state license requirements. In addition, lenders and bond underwriters often require accreditation as a condition of financing.

The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits nearly 20,000 health care organizations and programs. Formed in 1951, it is an independent, non-profit organization that serves as the nation's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.