Which organization proposed the goal to improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers?

• A. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• B. The United States Department of Health and Human Services
• C. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• D. The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals

Answer: (D)

Improving the effectiveness of communication among caregivers is a patient-safety focus tied to ensuring accurate and timely information transfers during handoffs and transitions of care. The organization that explicitly proposed and publishes this goal is the Joint Commission through its National Patient Safety Goals, which guide accredited facilities to enhance communication to prevent errors and improve outcomes. This is the specific, ongoing safety initiative that shapes how care teams coordinate and share essential patient information.

Other organizations play different roles: CMS focuses on payment policies and coverage, the Department of Health and Human Services oversees federal health programs but not this specific accreditation-driven safety goal, and OSHA concentrates on workplace safety rather than direct patient-care communication.