QUESTION:
Has The Joint Commission (“TJC”) issued new Elements of Performance (“EPs”) regarding obstetrical/maternity care?

OUR ANSWER FROM HORTYSPRINGER ATTORNEY NICHOLAS CALABRESE:
Yes, TJC issued these new EPs in the early days of the pandemic, so it’s not surprising that these may have received little attention.

The new EPs are under the Provision of Care (“PC”) chapter, at PC.06.01.01 and PC.06.01.03, and were effective July 1, 2020.  TJC’s press release stated that the EPs were implemented because maternal morbidity and mortality was becoming worse, especially in the areas of maternal hemorrhage and severe hypertension/preeclampsia.

The new EPs require assessments regarding hemorrhage and hypertension/preeclampsia risk on admission to labor and delivery and on admission to postpartum.  These EPs also require that the quality improvement committee establish criteria that trigger reviews for such cases, and that the reviews evaluate the effectiveness of the hemorrhage response team.  There are also requirements that education be provided to patients and families regarding signs and symptoms of postpartum hemorrhage and severe hypertension/preeclampsia.

The Medical Executive Committee is also involved, since it is required to assign a multidisciplinary committee the task of developing procedures to manage pregnant and postpartum patients who experience maternal hemorrhage, and for measuring and managing blood pressure to lessen the likelihood of harm relating to maternal severe hypertension and/or preeclampsia.

So, this may be a good time to update your rules and regulations to make sure that these new EPs are covered.