Clarification: Eligibility for advanced certification for palliative care.

Care program evaluates hospital-based palliative care programs that deliver care to a defined patient population. Since the program’s launch on September 1, 2011, customers have identified a need for greater clarity in the palliative care certification eligibility criteria. As a result, The Joint Commission clarified the eligibility criteria to include a note regarding hospice patients as well as an additional clarification about the direction and coordination of palliative care, treatment, and services. The revised eligibility requirements are shown in the box below (new text is underlined, deleted text is shown in strikethrough). While they are effective immediately, the revised requirements will be published in fall 2012 in “The Joint Commission Certification Process” (CERT) chapter of the 2013 Palliative Care Certification Manual. For more information, contact David Eickemeyer, associate director, Certification, at deickemeyer@jointcommission .org or 630/792-5697. P CLARIFICATION: Eligibility for Advanced Certification for Palliative Care