Joint Commission to Return for Oncology Tower Survey

A Joint Commission team is scheduled to return to the SMH-Sarasota campus sometime between now and April 25 to conduct an unannounced survey of the new Oncology Tower.

While the exact date of the survey isn’t known, the visit itself is expected and planned. Whenever a hospital opens a new site of care that’s significant in size and scope, the national accrediting organization performs an “extension survey” to ensure the new facility meets national quality and safety standards. The Oncology Tower survey is expected to last one day and include two surveyors: a clinician and an engineer.

While the surveyors will focus on the new tower, there is a possibility they could visit other areas of the Sarasota campus to check overall compliance with various standards and policies. SMH-Sarasota successfully completed a full Joint Commission accreditation survey this past fall, so departments and staff throughout the hospital should be prepared to once again demonstrate their safe, high-quality care. Here are a few reminders of the types of issues that surveyors may look for during their visit:

• Doors, exits, fire extinguishers, fire alarms and electrical panels are not blocked and all work properly
• No outdated or expired supplies
• All items and equipment (including oxygen cylinders) are properly stored
• All areas are clean and dust-free, including high shelves and cabinet tops, vents, equipment, containers, etc.
• Patient food is dated, labeled and kept in the patient food refrigerator (no medications or staff food in the patient food refrigerator)
• No broken or stained ceiling tiles
• Staff are wearing PPE correctly and demonstrating proper hand hygiene

Thank you to all of the staff and leaders working diligently to comply with the highest standards of care.