Statement by Edward J. McElroy,
President, American Federation of Teachers
on GAO Report Finding JCAHO Hospital Accreditation Process Inadequate

(The Government Accountability Office (GAO), formerly the General Accounting Office,
released a report yesterday stating that the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the private group that inspects hospitals to determine their eligibility for Medicare, missed many serious deficiencies under Medicare requirements in JCAHO-approved hospitals.)

Washington, D.C. – The GAO report reaffirms what healthcare professionals have long known – there is no adequate system in place to ensure that patients receive high-quality care in hospitals. For years, nurses and other healthcare workers have complained that JCAHO inspections are ineffective and called for substantive changes to improve patient safety and health. AFT and other unions have long insisted that JCAHO officials enact unannounced inspections, whistleblower protections, public disclosure of findings, and off-site confidential hearings between inspectors and healthcare workers.

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) to increase Medicare’s authority over JCAHO is a step in the right direction to ensure that hospitals are held to the highest standard. AFT Healthcare will continue its efforts to improve the quality of patient care and workplace conditions by pushing for more rigorous inspections. Patients deserve no less.

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