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The Role of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Standards

Lawyers often ask me to explain how I use the JCAHO standards in evaluating medical malpractice cases and whether this evaluation will assist them in their pursuit of justice for their clients. I usually start my explanation with a brief history of the Joint Commission and its role in hospital operations and reimbursement.

The JCAHO was formed in 1951 by several professional organizations: the American Hospital Association, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Medical Association. Its mission is “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”. To accomplish this mission, the JCAHO has developed standards for accrediting hospitals and other types of healthcare organizations that focus on the delivery of the highest possible quality patient care as well as ensuring a safe environment for patients and staff. While a hospital’s participation in the JCAHO accreditation is technically voluntary, the federal government requires hospitals to meet their standards in order to receive reimbursement from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Obviously, this requirement essentially mandates that all hospitals meet the JCAHO standards or one of the few other organizations that are included in this payment mandate. While the process is voluntary, it is important to understand that the standards are mandatory and that receiving a full accreditation from the JCAHO is still the gold standard for a hospital’s quality of care.

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