The Joint Commission Ever-Readiness: Understanding Tracer Methodology

The Joint Commission (TJC) evaluates the consistent provision of appropriate and safe access to health care, treatment, and services. Currently, TJC uses the tracer methodology to assess standards compliance and follows a number of patients through an organization's entire health care delivery process. The tracer methodology uses 3 different types of tracers as follows: individual or patient tracers, program-specific, and system tracers, to identify performance issues in one or more steps of the care process or at interfaces between them. This review article describes the different types of tracers used by TJC and provides examples of each tracer in radiology; it outlines how to achieve TJC ever-readiness with the use of mock tracers and provides practical suggestions on how to ensure staff engagement.