To: HOD ASCLS
From: Joint Commission, PTAC ASCLS Representative
Joint Commission, Liaison Network
RE: Annual Report
Submitted by: William Hunt, Joint Commission, PTAC ASCLS Representative
Judy Davis, Joint Commission, PTAC ASCLS Alternate
Date: July 1, 2014
The Professional and Technical Advisory Committees (PTACS) are part of the Joint Commission’s advisory structure. The Laboratory is one of the six PTAC committees and has representation from 17 laboratory organizations. The Laboratory PTAC assist The Joint Commission (TJC) in the development and refinement of standards and elements of performance.
Terms on PTAC run for 2 year terms. Judy Davis is the ASCLS PTAC Alternate Representative who represents ASCLS in my absence. During the past year a number of standards were reviewed by PTAC and input was provided with the assistance of our members.
Since the last house there have been 4 PTAC conference call and an in person meeting last August followed by the two day TJC Liaison Network Meeting. The TJC Liaison Network Meeting is an annual meeting held every July in Chicago where representatives learn of current and new initiatives proposed by the TJC. This meeting is an opportunity to learn about the concerns of other healthcare areas (and organizations outside of hospitals) that are affected by the Joint Commission. The August 2014 meeting will be attended by Elissa Passiment.
My 2 year term as Vice Chair of the Laboratory PTAC and represent the laboratory on the TJC Standards and Survey Procedures committee ended on December 31, 2013. As of January 2014 (for a two year term) I have the honor of being the Laboratory PTAC chair. The PTAC chair attends the four Board of Commissioner’s meetings. The next quarterly meeting is August 1st and 2nd (during our national meeting) at the TJC headquarters outside of Chicago.
There have been a number of changes this year which were communicated to all laboratories accredited by TJC. This has been a transition year with the departure of Jennifer Rhamy as Executive Director of Laboratory Services. Stacy Olea who was in charge of the TJC laboratory inspector team has moved into the role of Executive Director of Laboratory Services.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent ASCLS in this capacity.