About the Joint Commission

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations

• Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission membership includes the American Dental Association, American College of Surgeons, American College of Physicians, American Hospital Association, and the American Medical Association.

• Developed accreditation standards and survey program for Home Care in 1989.

• A voluntary independent, not-for-profit accrediting organization. The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

The Joint Commission Mission:

To continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations.

• The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits hospitals, health care networks, and health care organizations that provide home care, long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory, and ambulatory care services.

• They also provide educational programs and material on Health Care quality.

Why Looking for a "Joint Commission" Accredited Home Care Agency is Important:

• If a Home Care agency is accredited by the Joint Commission then they are compliant with the standards established by the JC.

• Compliance with the standards means that the agency is Customer focused and has programs in place to continually improve the performance of the services it provides to its patients/customers.

• Many people and insurance companies perceive Joint Commission accreditation as meaning that the agency provides Quality Care and is widely recognized as one of the most important "seals of approval" in the health care marketplace.

• Most third party insurance companies are now requiring that a home care agency be Joint Commission accredited for the patient to be covered to have services provided by that Home Care Agency.

For more information regarding the Joint Commission, access www.jcaho.org.