4OAmbulatoryhealth care accreditation C o l l a b o r a t i n g . I n s p i r i n g . A c c r e d i t i n g .Four Decades of Improving Patient Safety in Ambulatory Care

Years

The Joint Commission

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rsThe Joint Commission

Can you tell us about your past 34 years? I began serving as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy and then served as the administrator of Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago for nearly 20 years. After being recruited by The Joint Commission in 1981, I retired from daily health care operations to become a part-time surveyor and relocated to Southern California.

How has ambulatory health care changed over the years? I can see measurable improvements in the quality of ambulatory care and believe the focus on outpatient care is still evolving. The recent Primary Care Medical Home standards that put focus on the patient at the center, supported by a multidisciplinary team, are evidence of this evolution.

One thing that has not changed is the compassion and mission-focus of the good people who work in health care not just the doctors and nurses, but all employees, from the facilitys front office staff to the maintenance workers. I feel a special affinity to those behind-the-scenes workers who contribute as integral members of the health care team but are often unheralded in their contributions to patient care.

Interesting travel stories? I cant forget that first flight on a crop duster to Manhattan, Kansas for my first survey at Kansas State Universitys Student Health Center. As for the best dining experience anywhere? Hands down, rural Louisiana. Nothing beats a roadside gas station between Lafayette and Opelousas that also serves up a spicy jambalaya with red beans and rice fuel for the soul!

Memorable survey experiences? That would certainly be immediately following a survey at the U.S. Army clinic north of Tokyo, Japan on March 11, 2011; the day of the powerful 9.0 magnitude earthquake. l was at Tokyos Narita Airport and was about to board a flight home to LA. Instead, I found myself spending two nights sleeping on the floor of the airport with 6,000 other international travelers (including several other Joint Commission surveyors working in Japan that week). I can think of no better training in the principles of emergency management standards than watching the Japanese people manage this major disruption, including the immediate response and support for surveyors by The Joint Commission during the crisis.

More About 1981Surveyors for Hire

Have something to share about the past 40 years? Please contact Andrea Quartz at 630.792.5825 or aquartz@jointcommission.org

The Joint Commission The World

Begins accepting applicationsfor physician and administratorconsultant-surveyors. Prior tothis, surveys were conducted byvolunteers in the ambulatory carefield.

Charges $15 for its AccreditationManual tor Ambulatory Health Care

Consolidates all education andsurveyor training activities under thenew Department of Education. Inaddition to conducting approximately150 seminars and workshopsthroughout the year, the Departmentof Education assumed responsibilityfor surveyor education. E. MartinEgelston, PhD, was named directorof the new department.

US-Iran agreement frees 52 hostages held inTeheran since 1979

AIDS is first identified as a disease President Reagan is wounded by gunman,

John Hinckley Jr., and taken to WashingtonUniversity Hospital where Dr. Dennis OLeary(who would serve as president of The JointCommission 1986-2007) is acting chief ofsurgery and spokesman

Sandra Day OConnor, 51, of Arizona, is firstwoman appointed to U.S. Supreme Court

MTV goes on the air running around-the-clock music videos, debuting with VideoKilled the Radio Star

Pacman-mania sweeps the country Best Picture: Ordinary People Song of the Year: Sailing, Christopher

Cross IBM introduces its first personal computer The FDA approves the use of the artificial

sweetener aspartame (Nutrasweet)

Recognizing 1981

The Joint CommissionPaul HargisAmbulatory Care Surveyor

When people ask Paul Hargis how long hes been with The Joint Commission, he is quick to respond with Oh, a little over 8 million miles. Recruited by The Joint Commission 34 years ago, Hargis was one of the ambulatory programs inaugural Class of 1981 surveyors marking the change from using volunteers to using Joint Commission-employed surveyors. Hargis currently works part-time as an ambulatory care surveyor.