Health organizations are required to staff their facilities with physicians, health contractors, and nurses who are qualified. The staff should have formal qualification from medical school or nursing colleges and must have received certification from the appropriate bodies in the country. Health care staffing agencies are also required to assess the formal education qualification of staff before placing them in any health center.
Since about 1996, the Joint Commission and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services have urged hospitals to streamline their provision of education and training to their staff. Hospitals are therefore required to develop education and training programs that enhance clinical practice and keep these programs updated. The commission requires that these educational programs comply with changes occurring in health care, technology, as well as in clinical practice. Continuing education provided to the staff must be relevant in order to guarantee patient safety.
Apart from the formal education received by health practitioners in medical school and nursing colleges, education provided by health organizations seeking accreditation should include channels through which the staff report safety concerns, fire safety strategies, pain management for patients, and learning early warning signs in changing conditions of a patient to the Joint Commission. An effective education and training program includes didactic or classroom training, direct practical observation, and simulation.
The Joint Commission carries out surveys of organizations seeking accreditation. Compliance with the educational requirements set by the commission is important for an organization if it's to qualify and receive accreditation. Education programs provided by a health organization should be assessed regularly to determine their relevancy to the staff and also to patients' safety.