The Joint Commission has issued an inventory of FAQs aimed at clarifying elements of standards for four areas:

Hospitals and Hospital Clinics: 

• Credentialing and privileging –Requirements for Physician Assistants and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
• Instrument reprocessing – Immediate Use Steam Sterilization (IUSS)
• Language access services –  Practitioners Communicating Directly with Patients
• Bilingual provider (physician, nurse etc.) serving as an interpreter for a fellow provider
• Medical staff governance – Medical Staff Policies versus Organizational Policies
• History and Physical – Update Requirements When Procedures are Performed During Inpatient Stay

Ambulatory Health Care:

• Instrument reprocessing –   Immediate Use Steam Sterilization (IUSS)
• Language access services – Practitioners Communicating Directly with Patients
• Bilingual provider (physician, nurse etc.)  serving as an interpreter for a fellow provider

Home Care:

• Language access services –  Practitioners Communicating Directly with Patients
• Bilingual provider (physician, nurse etc.) serving as an interpreter for a fellow provider 

Nursing Care Center:

• Language access services –  Practitioners Communicating Directly with Patients
• Bilingual provider (physician, nurse etc.) serving as an interpreter for a fellow provider