The Joint Commission revises quality, safety standards

The Joint Commission last month announced it is eliminating 168 standards (14%) and revising 14 other standards across its accreditation programs to streamline requirements and make them as efficient and impactful on patient safety, quality and equity as possible. The changes became effective Jan. 1. In addition, the commission is reviewing a second set of standards for revision or elimination and will announce its results in six months. “We want to have fewer, but more meaningful requirements that best support safer, higher-quality and more equitable health outcomes,” said Joint Commission President and CEO Jonathan Perlin, PhD, MD. The organization also announced it would not raise its accreditation fees for domestic hospitals this year in recognition of the many financial challenges hospitals face. (Joint Commission news release, 12/21/22)