"As part of continual efforts to improve the quality of our accreditation manuals, the Joint Commission is asking you to tell about your experiences with understanding and implementing the standards and elements of performance. The information that we gather will produce a more user-friendly manual. [They] are currently gathering comments on the following chapters from the accreditation manuals:* Management of Human Resources; * Management of Information; and * Improving Organization Performance

The three chapters listed above will be posted for comment through August 25, 2006.

http://www.jointcommission.org/AccreditationPrograms/stds_review.htm

Some people on MEDLIB wondered whether JCAHO will pay any attention to the feedback and whether it is worth it when compared to the results previously when "there was intense, passionate, intelligent and informed participation by medical librarians and MLA."

However, there were others who said it was our duty to respond and comment. Michelynn McKnight said, "If we can't positively explain and describe the value of our services, who can? Neither apathy nor confrontation will get us anywhere. This is a new opportunity to proclaim to a different group (yes, the composition of the decision making group changes) what we do for health care. It is our professional responsibility to do so." Jenny Garcia also said, "We have all been disappointed in JCAHO's lack of response to our efforts in the past. Not responding to this announcement will also send them a message that we like the standard just the way it is. I think they WILL pay attention to a LACK of response from us."

All too often we (librarians) complain about what has happened to us and why we can't so and so (JCAHO, MLA, NLM, Administrators, IT, etc.) to understand our needs and bang our head in frustration to understand why they did X,Y, and Z. Well here is an opportunity to be proactive and inform the powers that be about our issues. Will they listen? Who knows. But for us not to respond is a far worse. Don't complain about their actions when you do not take the time or effort to even enlighten them to your plight when they are ASKING you for feedback?!! Last time I checked they aren't mind readers.

Ok I will get down from my soap box, and just say that if you are going to give your comments, please do so BEFORE August 25, 2006. It is relatively painless and easy, Mina Davenport thought it was pretty quick. You have less than 10 days!