We previously reported that the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) lifted its ban on allowing health care providers to use texts for physician orders.

JCAHO recently reversed its decision and reinstated the ban stating that more guidance is needed “to ensure a safe implementation involving the secure texting of orders for those organizations desiring to employ technology supporting this practice.” In order to continue the evaluation of whether or not the ban will remain in effect, JCAHO is collaborating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue additional guidance on the use of secure texting for physician orders in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQs), designed to supplement the initial guidance issued in May of 2016. JCAHO and CMS hope to issue the FAQs in September of 2016. .”

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