The Joint Commission relies on a variety of advisory groups in its continuous effort to improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public. These groups provide feedback to help The Joint Commission develop and revise standards, policies and procedures that support performance improvement in health care organizations. Members of The Joint Commission’s Board of Commissioners, who provide policy leadership and oversight, also serve as liaisons to some of the advisory groups. In addition, The Joint Commission uses task forces or expert panels on an ad hoc basis to provide input on important initiatives requiring intensive, short-term attention.
Advisory Councils — Comprises representatives of organizations accredited or certified in the specific programs, the Program Advisory Councils provide advice on 1) improving the value of the accreditation or certification program, 2) new products, 3) standards or survey process changes, and 4) environmental influences. Their advice complements feedback received from the Professional and Technical Advisory Committees.
- Ambulatory Advisory Councils — The two councils are made up of providers of ambulatory surgery and medical/diagnostic services. (Contact Michael Kulczycki, mkulczycki@jointcommission.org)
- Behavioral Advisory Councils — The four councils are made up of providers of mental health, addictions, children/youth services and Opioid treatment programs. (Contact Mary Cesare-Murphy, mcesaremurphy@jointcommission.org)
- Disease-Specific Care Advisory Council (Contact Jean Range, jrange@jointcommission.org)
- Health Care Staffing Advisory Council (Contact Michele Sacco, msacco@jointcommission.org)
- Home Care Advisory Councils — The four councils are made up of providers of home health, home medical equipment, hospice and pharmacy services. (Contact Debra Zak, dzak@jointcommission.org)
- Hospital Advisory Council (Contact Darlene Christiansen, dchristiansen@jointcommission.org)
- Laboratory Advisory Council (Contact Margaret Peck, mpeck@jointcommission.org)
- Long Term Care/Assisted Living Advisory Council (Contact Dale Johnson, djohnson@jointcommission.org)
Business Advisory Group — Provides counsel to The Joint Commission on employer priorities in the evaluation of health care quality and identifies what is important to purchasers when accrediting, certifying and measuring the quality and safety of health care. The group serves as a sounding board for Joint Commission management to assess the value of new policies and accreditation services to purchasers. They also assist in the development of new Joint Commission information tools and resources for purchasers and consumers. The 22-seat panel includes a cross-section of individuals representing corporations, business coalitions and associations of varying sizes and geographic locations. Three Joint Commission Board members serve as liaisons to the group. Contact Rosemary Burke, rburke@jointcommission.org
Committee on Health Care Safety — Provides advice to The Joint Commission regarding standards and survey procedures relating to the physical environment of patient care. The committee members are experts in safety, security, hazardous materials and waste, fire safety, emergency management, medical equipment or building utility systems. Four seats are reserved for representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Fire Protection Association and International Fire Marshals Association. Contact John Fishbeck, jfishbeck@jointcommission.org
Performance Measurement Technical Advisory Panels — Advisory panels are appointed to assist with the identification of measures sets for use in accreditation and certification. Each panel includes multi-disciplinary experts with expertise appropriate to the measure set focus. Panel members have included physicians, nurses, pharmacists, state hospital representatives, purchasers and consumers. The panels develop a measurement framework to establish the domains (i.e., delivery of care setting, patient education, safety) and key aspects of care (i.e., care settings, aspects of education or safety to assess) to be addressed by the measure set and serve as a guide through the measure identification process. Using the measurement framework, the panels recommend measures which will potentially comprise the sets. Contact Ann Watt, awatt@jointcommission.org
Liaison Network — Improves communications with health care professional groups. The Liaison Network includes more than 230 professional organizations and ensures that The Joint Commission gets important input when developing its services and products. It also helps maintain and strengthen the relationships between The Joint Commission and these organizations. Contact Susan Funk, sfunk@jointcommission.org
Nursing Advisory Council — Established to advance solutions for addressing critical issues in health care such as the nurse staffing shortage, the 30-member council meets several times a year to advise The Joint Commission on present and evolving nursing-related issues that affect health care quality and patient safety; provide the nursing perspective on new Joint Commission initiatives that may affect the nursing profession and patient care; and identify ways to optimize the effects of nursing-related changes to The Joint Commission’s standards and accreditation process. Contact Kim Andersen, kandersen@jointcommission.org
Professional and Technical Advisory Committees (PTACs) — PTACs were created to advise each accreditation program on proposed standards changes. Members of the seven PTACs include professionals from each respective field who represent national associations as well as advocates. Each PTAC is composed primarily of individuals nominated by selected professional associations. The majority of the PTACs have public or consumer group representation. Two Board members serve as liaisons to the PTACs. Contact Peggy Lavin, plavin@jointcommission.org
Public Advisory Group — Counsels The Joint Commission on current and evolving health care issues that are of concern to the public. The group also defines public expectations for quality in health care and offers insights for improvements in the accreditation process. The 21 individual members and organization representatives are from public advocacy groups, disease-prevention associations, consumer groups and others. Four Joint Commission Board members serve as liaisons. Contact Kim Andersen, kandersen@jointcommission.org
Sentinel Event Advisory Group —Annually recommends program-specific National Patient Safety Goals and related requirements for adoption by The Joint Commission Board of Commissioners. Also reviews draft patient safety recommendations for potential publication in The Joint Commission’s periodic Sentinel Event Alert advisory; advises Joint Commission staff as to the acceptability of alternative practices implemented by or being considered by accredited organizations in lieu of implementing the specific requirements of the NPSGs; and recommends potential future topics for Sentinel Event Alert, among other activities. A Joint Commission Board member serves as a liaison. Contact Peter Angood, pangood@jointcommission.org
Work Group on Accreditation Issues for Small and Rural Hospitals — Advises The Joint Commission on the challenges of providing health care in rural settings and on how The Joint Commission’s standards and survey process affect organizations that deliver care in rural environments. The members include executives and physicians from small and rural hospitals. Contact Gail Weinberger, gweinberger@jointcommission.org
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