The Joint Commission (JC) is a self-governing non-profit institution that oversees accreditation plans for healthcare institutions in the United States (US). The role is achieved by establishing performance standards that look into the fundamental features of operation like safety in medication, infection control, patient care, and the rights of consumers (Lyle-Edrosolo & Waxman, 2016). Accreditation necessitates an on-site assessment by the commission, which evaluates acquiescence with the set standards as well as the enhancement activities. Certification by the JC can be gotten by the health facilities, not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories, home care services providers, ambulatory healthcare, and behavioral health treatment facilities (“Health Care Settings”, 2020). Upon receiving the endorsement or recognition, the health care institutions are approved in the form of a Gold Seal.
For any hospital to be accredited by the JC, it must be located in the territories of the US. If it is outside the US borders, it must be under a US Congress charter or run by the government of the US. The applying hospital must also attain the stipulated minimum parameters of services capacity. The institution seeking endorsement for the initial instance must have served ten inpatients with one active inpatient at the period of assessment. Additionally, a new hospital in quest of Medicare accreditation ought to have at least one active inpatient during the evaluation period.
Accreditation of any Nursing Care Center is possible when the institution hails in the US jurisdiction, chartered by the US Congress, or run by the government of the US. The institution must pinpoint the services it delivers or contracted to provide, and manifest the provision of the amenities in line with JC codes. Moreover, it must show evaluation and improvement mechanisms for the treatment and care services offered. The establishment must also have attended a minimum of five victims and two active inpatients during the assessment session.
Laboratories eligible for recognition ought to be within the US dominion or if outside be under the US agencies or government. The institution is required to have the facility license, the CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) license, or relevant registration to run its range of services. The institution ought to demonstrate the amenities it offers directly or sub-contracted to deliver, and that they meet the JC principles. Finally, it must prove to the JC reviewer that it undertakes continuous quality assessment and improvement on the services and care it offers.
Home care amenities providers include pharmacies, hospices, personal care, and home health facilities. For accreditation of any home-care facility, it must be either within the US borders, owned, or operated by any US agency. The facility must also be able to show the direct provision of patient care at the time of evaluation. Furthermore, it must demonstrate compliance with the relevant registration and licensure protocols. However, there exist additional distinct prerequisites for the certification of the individual home care facilities.
Finally, the CAMBHC (Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Behavioral Healthcare) provides the standards for the accreditation of any behavioral healthcare institution. The applying organization is deemed eligible if the variety of the services and practices in healthcare is in line with the JC standards. Before accreditation, the commission surveys the institution to ascertain whether it is contracted by any US state agencies or ten percent of its clients are US citizens. The JC also evaluates whether the healthcare facility has any quality improvement strategies in place for the services it offers.
References
Health Care Settings. (2020). Jointcommission.org. Web.
Lyle-Edrosolo, G., & Waxman, K. (2016). Aligning Healthcare Safety and Quality Competencies: Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN), The Joint Commission, and American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet® Standards Crosswalk. Nurse Leader, 14(1), 70-75.