The Joint Commission (TJC)
The Joint Commission (TJC) is a non-profit organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations in the United States. Established in 1951, TJC is one of the oldest and most respected accrediting bodies in the healthcare industry, and is recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as an approved accrediting organization (Joint Commission, 2020).
TJC accredits and certifies a wide range of healthcare organizations, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, home healthcare agencies, and ambulatory care centers (Joint Commission, 2020). To earn and maintain accreditation, these organizations must meet a set of standards that are designed to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care (Joint Commission, 2020). TJC evaluates healthcare organizations using a variety of methods, including on-site surveys, online assessments, and reviews of healthcare data and performance measures (Joint Commission, 2020).
One key aspect of TJC’s accreditation process is its focus on patient safety. TJC has established a set of patient safety goals that healthcare organizations must meet in order to earn and maintain accreditation (Joint Commission, 2020). These goals cover a wide range of patient safety issues, including the prevention of medical errors, the proper handling and administration of medications, and the prevention of infections and other healthcare-associated conditions (Joint Commission, 2020).
In addition to patient safety, TJC also focuses on other aspects of healthcare quality, such as patient satisfaction, care coordination, and the effectiveness of care. To measure these areas, TJC uses a variety of performance measures and data sources, including patient satisfaction surveys, clinical outcomes data, and healthcare data analytics (Joint Commission, 2020). By using these measures, TJC is able to assess the overall quality of care provided by healthcare organizations and identify areas for improvement (Joint Commission, 2020).
TJC’s accreditation process is designed to be collaborative and consultative, with the goal of helping healthcare organizations improve their performance and deliver high-quality care. When an organization is surveyed by TJC, the survey team provides feedback and recommendations for improvement, and the organization is given the opportunity to correct any deficiencies before the survey report is finalized (Joint Commission, 2020). This feedback and consultation process is designed to help organizations identify and address any weaknesses in their operations and improve the quality of care they provide (Joint Commission, 2020).
Research has shown that TJC accreditation is associated with improved patient outcomes and healthcare quality. For example, a study of more than 2,000 hospitals found that TJC-accredited hospitals had significantly lower mortality rates and shorter lengths of stay compared to non-accredited hospitals (Chassin, et al., 2003). Another study found that TJC-accredited nursing homes had significantly lower rates of pressure ulcers and falls compared to non-accredited nursing homes (Weeks, et al., 2011).
Despite the clear benefits of TJC accreditation, it is important to recognize that the accreditation process can be challenging for healthcare organizations. The process can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, and it requires organizations to meet a high standard of quality and performance (Joint Commission, 2020). In addition, the process can be stressful for organizations, as they must demonstrate that they meet TJC’s standards in order to earn and maintain accreditation (Joint Commission, 2020). To overcome these challenges, healthcare organizations must be well-prepared for the accreditation process and work closely with TJC to identify and address any areas for improvement (Joint Commission, 2020).
