Considering the broad spectrum of views that exist within the industry, Mr. Lenz encourages firms to make individual concerns known to JCAHO before standards are finalized. "At this point, it is unclear how successful the program will be or how far-reaching an impact it will have on the market."

The next step Originally aiming for a September premiere, the HCSS certification program is scheduled to launch before year-end with an official manual anticipated in October. To support those companies interested in becoming certified, JCAHO plans to provide consulting services through its subsidiary, Joint Commission Resources, as well as conferences and workshops in January 2005. For the latest updates, visit http:// http://www.jcaho.org/dscc/hcss/hcsc.htm .

REFERENCE Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. (2004, July 26). Health Care Staffing Services Certification. Frequently asked questions. Retrieved August 10, 2004, from http:// http://www.jcaho.org/dscc/hcss/hcss_faqs.htm