February 11, 2008 — /OAK BROOK, IL/ — Joint Commission Resources (JCR) today announced the launch of a new consulting program to help health care organizations across the nation create a patient-safe environment by critically evaluating, applying, and implementing science-based evidence surrounding the relationship between design, patient safety, and quality. JCR is an affiliate of The Joint Commission.

The new service offers organizations an integrated approach to understanding, through an effective process, how evidence relates to design, safety, and quality, and how to apply that evidence in making confident decisions about design. By combining clinical and engineering services, organizations can build and maintain a patient-safe environment. The consulting and education service works with organizations at any phase of design and provides project assessment and preparation; analysis, feedback, and implementation.

“Understanding how to implement and sustain patient safety into the design of health care organizations is a critical need today,” says Karen H. Timmons, president and CEO, JCR. “This program will provide organizations with confidence in their designs for quality and safety at any stage of their development. The program will help organizations understand the implications of design on quality and safety, and guide them to the appropriate conclusions and applications.”

The health and safety design service will combine the expertise of a team of practitioner consultants that includes engineers and clinical health design professionals in order to help health care organizations establish and maintain a patient-safe environment at every step, from blueprints through commissioning.

JCR has more than 20 years of experience in helping health care organizations continually improve their operations in patient safety, infection prevention and control, medication management, environment of care, and accreditation preparation.

Visit www.jcrinc.com