Joint Commission, HCFA restraint regs are at odds.
The restraint standards from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and restraint regulations from the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) differ in key areas. HCFA requires a physician or other licensed practitioner to perform a face-to-face evaluation within one hour, while the Joint Commission requires the evaluation within 12 hours. HCFA doesn't permit the use of physician-developed protocols for restraints, while the Joint Commission allows protocols to be used. HCFA requires that restraints can be used only in emergency situations, unless it's documented that all other types of interventions have failed, while the Joint Commission permits restraint use for some behavioral management situations.