Our Blog - A look into our world

Hospitals are the kind of businesses that don't have time to get bogged down in minutia and updates. When it comes to getting accredited and registered with the right agencies, you need to get it right the first time and not have to worry about it again.

Getting accredited by The Joint Commission is a big part of that process and it's not something you want to risk. Becoming one of the 19,000 health care organizations accredited by The Joint Commission means a lot to your hospital, it's staff and it's patients. 

The Joint Commission's stated mission to "To continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value".

Why is Joint Commission accreditation so important to your hospital?

In 1990 the United States Congress enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a far reaching legislation that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities. In addition to protecting the right to employment, the ADA ensures access to public transportation and full and equal opportunity to enjoy goods, services and use public accommodations. Consequently business establishments that serve the public are required by law to comply with a variety of requisites including some very specific guidelines for signage. 

Most of us think immediately of braille signs, but the ADA requirements go far beyond signage for the blind.  Signs must be readable to the functionally blind as well as those with lesser visual impairments. Persons in wheelchairs must also be able to access the information on signage.  In addition, people who are deaf, have difficulty speaking due to physical disease or psychiatric illness, the elderly, and those with other impairments can all benefit greatly from clear ADA compliant signage.

Although ADA signs are required by law, they are no longer required to have a standardized, uniformed appearance.  The font style, color, shape and the material the sign is created on can all be customized.  Before modificati on can begin, understand and follow the requirements.