According to The Joint Commission's newly released 2008 National Patient Safety Goals, acute-care and critical-access hospitals will be required to develop a policy and procedure enabling health-care staff to call for additional assistance when a patient's condition appears to be worsening. In addition, nearly every provider type will have to address the best ways to reduce the likelihood of patient harm that can come from the use of anti-coagulation therapy. Each new requirement has a one-year phase-in period, with full implementation expected by January 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.jointcommission.org/NewsRoom/NewsReleases/nr_08_npsgs.htm.