Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Monday, September 14, 2009

Proposed Accreditation Standards Could Compel U.S. Hospitals to Screen Patients for Addictions
September 11, 2009
By Bob Curley

A proposal to include screening and brief intervention for addictions in national quality and accreditation standards for hospitals could be one of the most important developments ever for addiction treatment -- or wind up being something far less significant, depending upon the outcome of ongoing discussions and feedback from the medical community.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) recently released for public comment a list of proposed new hospital performance measures for screening, brief intervention, referral and treatment (SBIRT) of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. JCAHO accredited nearly 16,000 U.S. healthcare facilities, accounting for 95 percent of the country's hospital beds. . . . . . .


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