Inter-rater reliability. Regaining credibility with your staff and financial officer while meeting JCAHO standards.

The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), in Standard NC 3.4.2., currently requires that our method for determining staffing has both face validity and inter-rater reliability. Furthermore, in LD.1.3, they require a plan to provide services in response to identified patient needs. In LD.2.1.4, the standards require that the leaders recommend a sufficient number of qualified persons consistent with the assessed needs of the population served and planned care/services. Every area must have process to determine the level of care required by patients being served in that specific area. The burden of proof that the required number and mix of staff members are provided will fall to patient care leadership.