One of the most important of which, for healthcare facilities, is the JCAHO
The Joint Commission
The Joint Commission is a United States-based nonprofit tax-exempt 501(c) organization that accredits more than 21,000 US health care organizations and programs. The international branch accredits medical services from around the world. A majority of US state governments recog…
Full Answer
What does JCAHO accreditation mean?
While accreditation by the Joint Commission is the hallmark of a high quality addiction treatment program, no accreditation organization can guarantee a successful outcome. What JCAHO accreditation does mean is that the drug rehab treatment programs meet certain staff, quality, and ongoing improvement standards.
What is JCAHO certified?
The certified acute coronary syndrome programme demonstrates that we follow the latest evidence-based clinical guidelines to deliver high quality, safe and timely care to our patients presenting with heart attacks.
Why do hospitals need accreditation?
Why Healthcare Facilities Need JCAHO Accreditation
- JCAHO Accreditation Basics. The JCAHO accreditation and certification is “recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards”.
- The Cost of Accreditation. ...
- Additional Certification Options. ...
- The Perks of Being Accredited. ...
What is JCAHO compliance?
The new JCAHO medication management standards place a greater emphasis on medication safety and are more detailed and prescriptive than previous standards. Compliance with the standards may pose a ...
What does it mean when a hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission?
Achieving Joint Commission accreditation demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement in patient care. Joint Commission accreditation tells your patients you're committed to providing safe, high quality care — time after time.
Why do hospitals need Joint Commission accreditation?
Improves risk management and risk reduction – Joint Commission standards focus on state-of-the-art performance improvement strategies that help health care organizations continuously improve the safety and quality of care, which can reduce the risk of error or low-quality care.
What happens if a hospital is not accredited by The Joint Commission?
Losing accreditation could ultimately result in a hospital losing their ability to bill federal payers, creating large financial implications for the institution. Maintaining Joint Commission accreditation is essential for the viability of the institution and the safety of its patients.
What is JCAHO accreditation and certification?
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, or JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that accredits over 20,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the country.
What are the disadvantages of The Joint Commission?
DRAWBACKS: The Joint Commission keeps its detailed inspection reports secret. You can try to fight to get access, but there are laws on the books in many states that carve out exemptions for the Joint Commission. The commission does not like to punish hospitals and so usually works with them to improve performance.
What is JCAHO responsible for?
The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 22,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including hospitals and health care organizations that provide ambulatory and office-based surgery, behavioral health, home health care, laboratory and nursing care center services.
Can The Joint Commission shut down a hospital?
The Joint Commission accredits nearly 80% of U.S. hospitals, but rarely revokes or alters accreditation when state or federal inspectors identify safety violations, The Wall Street Journal reported.
What are benefits of accreditation?
The 5 Top Benefits of AccreditationAccreditation improves patient outcomes and mitigates risks. ... Accreditation identifies strengths and gaps in your programs and processes. ... Accreditation promotes communication and staff empowerment across organizations. ... Accreditation fosters a culture of quality and safety.More items...•
Why is hospital accreditation important?
Accreditation gives you a leg up on your competition. Potential patients or partners are more likely to choose an accredited healthcare facility over one that is not accredited. Since accreditation improves the quality of care, it also improves patient satisfaction.
Are all hospitals accredited by Joint Commission?
The Joint Commission accredits more than 4,000 facilities throughout the United States, which accounts for approximately 78 percent of hospitals. Other agencies approve an additional 11 percent, bringing the total number of accredited healthcare facilities to 89 percent.
What are the 2 main accreditations for hospital accreditation?
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) - based in the United States [1] American Accreditation Commission International (AACI) - based in the United States.
What is the difference between Joint Commission and JCAHO?
Founded in 1951, TJC (formerly JCAHO) also seeks to ensure safe and effective health care at the highest quality and value. While TJC is an independent and not for profit group, it has fixed its standards based on CMS guidelines, and, in some cases, exceeds established federal requirements.
What is JCAHO in healthcare?
What is JCAHO? The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, or JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that accredits over 20,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the country. The JCAHO commonly is referred to as the Joint Commission in the healthcare industry and among governmental industry ...
What is the mission of JCAHO?
The JCAHO has an explicitly stated mission: “To continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.”. A major objective of the Joint Commission is to continually improve ...
What is the American Osteopathic Association?
The American Osteopathic Association provides accreditation to osteopathic medical schools to further the practice of osteopathic medicine.
How long does it take to get URAC accreditation?
Facilities undergo a thorough examination. Accreditation can be achieved in as little as four to six months.
What is the Joint Commission?
A major objective of the Joint Commission is to continually improve and enhance the quality and safety of healthcare delivery in the United States. Towards this end, the Joint Commission makes a concerted, consistent effort to engage patients in issues associated with improving the quality and safety of healthcare delivery across the country.
How early can you request a speaker for a JCAHO?
In order to find the best speaker for the event, requests should be made as early as possible, preferably at least eight weeks in advance of the event.
What are the benefits of certification?
The benefits of certification include reduction in clinical process variations to improves patient care and a structural and management framework for the program. The Joint Commission reacts to current issues in medical care to improve outcomes and safety.
What are the JCAHO standards for accreditation?
Follow Us: The Joint Commission, formerly known as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, standards for hospital accreditation are a set of measures used to help hospitals assess and improve their performance.
Where are Joint Commission standards for hospitals located?
Joint Commission standards for hospital accreditation are located in the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals. Each of the standards has one or more EPs, or elements of performance, and each standard has its own unique chapter within CAMH, states the American Society for Healthcare Engineering.
What is JCAHO accreditation?
JCAHO, or the Joint Commission on Accreditation, Health Care, and Certification, is “an independent nonprofit that accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.”. So what exactly is the accreditation and ...
What are the add on certifications for hospitals?
Additional Certification Options. For hospitals, there are a number of voluntary, add-on certification options available, including: There are also add-on certifications for ambulatory, behavioral, critical access, home, and nursing care as well as laboratory services.
What type of organization can get accreditation?
The accreditation can be earned by many types of healthcare organization, including “hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, office-based surgery centers, behavioral health treatment facilities, and providers of home care services”.
Learn the Basics
Learn more about the hospital accreditation program such as eligibility, accreditation options, process and pricing. Then, assess your organization’s readiness to apply by reviewing our performance standards.
Prepare for Your Survey
You've submitted your application. Now, it's time to prepare for accreditation. Access tips, checklists and other resources to assist you before, during, and after your on-site survey.
Sustain Your Accreditation
Congratulations, you’re accredited! Next, learn how to promote this major accomplishment and implement processes to sustain accreditation.
Excel After Accreditation
Accreditation is important, but it’s not the end goal. We provide high-reliability tools, solutions and services to help you continue your zero-harm journey beyond accreditation.
We are Here to Support You Every Step of the Way
Accreditation and certification are important accomplishments to achieve and we are here to help your organization throughout the entire process.
The Accreditation Process
Accreditation is awarded upon successful completion of an on-site survey. The on-site survey is conducted by a specially trained Joint Commission surveyor or team of surveyors who assess your organization's compliance to our standards.
About the Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
Why Achieve Accreditation
Wondering the impact achieving Joint Commission accreditation or certification can make?
Learn the Process
The process of accreditation can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re here to support you each step of the way. Explore below the six key steps in the accreditation process.
What is Joint Commission accreditation?
What is Accreditation. Joint Commission accreditation can be earned by many types of health care organizations, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, office-based surgery centers, behavioral health treatment facilities, and providers of home care services. Explore the benefits of accreditation.
What is the Joint Commission's scoring and decision process?
The scoring and decision process is based on the criticality of the standards and other requirements regarding their relationship to the quality and safety of patient care. The Joint Commission strives to ensure that standards compliance scoring and the accreditation decisions are:

Jcaho Accreditation Basics
The Cost of Accreditation
- According the the Joint Commission’s site, annual fees for hospitals are “based on the type of hospital and weighted values for volume based on the types of service provided by a hospital”. The on-site survey fee is billed within seven days of the survey’s completion and an annual fee invoice is sent in January of each year.
Additional Certification Options
- For hospitals, there are a number of voluntary, add-on certification options available, including: 1. Primary Care Medical Home Certification 2. Patient Blood Management Certification 3. Integrated Care Certification There are also add-on certifications for ambulatory, behavioral, critical access, home, and nursing care as well as laboratory services.
The Perks of Being Accredited
- By obtaining the certification and performing regular assessments, your facility will be able to ensure it’s offering the highest quality, best value, and safest health care environment for both patients and staff. A few additional perks of having the Joint Commission Accreditation include: 1. A competitive marketplace edge 2. Improved quality of patient care due to reduced variation i…