The Joint Commission (TJC) warns that hostile behavior and rude language among health care professionals poses a serious threat to the overall quality of patient care and impacts patient safety (TJC, 2008). Because of this serious problem TJC is introducing new standards requiring accredited health care organizations to create a code of conduct that provides definitions of acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. The Joint Commission is also requiring facilities to establish a formal process for managing unacceptable behavior. These new standards will take effect January 1, 2009 for hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, laboratories, ambulatory care facilities, and behavioral health care facilities across the United States. For more information visit the
Joint Commission.