The College of American Pathologists (CAP) and The Joint Commission (TJC) have reached an agreement permitting advance notification of laboratory inspections at TJC-accredited hospitals.
The CAP had requested this change to a cooperative agreement between the CAP and TJC, which had prohibited advance notification of laboratory inspections. On May 30, TJC informed the CAP that the agreement could be amended in alignment with what the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) allows under CLIA.
Under the revised agreement, laboratories may receive advance notification of scheduled inspections up to 14 calendar days in advance. Exceptions included complaints and follow-up inspections due to previously identified noncompliance, which will remain unannounced.
Additional details about implementation will be shared in the coming weeks.
