What is the purpose of the Joint Commission Universal Protocol?

The purpose of the Joint Commission Universal Protocol is to lessen the incidence of major surgical errors. This protocol was developed to enhance patient safety during surgical procedures by establishing standardized practices aimed at preventing preventable errors. Key components of the Universal Protocol include ensuring the correct procedure is performed on the correct patient and that the correct site is selected for surgery. By adhering to these measures, healthcare providers minimize the risk of surgical mistakes, such as wrong-site surgery, which can have serious consequences for patients.

The other options, while important aspects of healthcare, do not encapsulate the primary focus of the Joint Commission Universal Protocol. For instance, increasing fiscal responsibility and improving communication are broader organizational goals, and while reducing medication errors is critical in healthcare settings, it is not the specific target of the Universal Protocol, which is centered explicitly on surgical safety.