Joint Commission

Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.

History

The Joint Commission was established in 1951 as a not-for-profit organization that accredits health care organizations in the United States. It was originally named the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) but changed its name to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in 1987. In 2007, the organization shortened its name to the Joint Commission.

Accreditation and Certification

The Joint Commission's primary function is to provide accreditation and certification to health care organizations that meet its standards of quality and safety. The accreditation process involves a rigorous review of the organization's policies, procedures, and performance. The certification process is similar, but focuses on specific programs or services within the organization.

Standards

The Joint Commission develops its standards in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts, and patients. The standards focus on important patient, individual, or resident care and organization functions that are essential to providing safe, high quality care.

Benefits of Accreditation and Certification

Accreditation and certification from the Joint Commission provides a number of benefits to health care organizations. These include improved risk management and risk reduction, a stronger competitive advantage, enhanced community trust, and improved staff education.

Criticisms

Despite its important role in the health care industry, the Joint Commission has faced criticism. Some critics argue that the organization's standards are too lenient or that its accreditation process is not thorough enough. Others claim that the Joint Commission is too closely tied to the health care industry, which could potentially compromise its objectivity.

See Also

• Health care in the United States
• Hospital accreditation
• Health care quality