On-site surveys are typically conducted by one surveyor for two days. If you have a volume of greater than 10,000 patient visits annually, two surveyors will be assigned for two days. The survey includes an opening conference, tracer activities, observation of the center's administrative and clinical activity, assessment of the physical facilities and patient care equipment, and a leadership exit conference. The actual agenda will be customized to fit the needs and services of your organization.
The purpose of a Joint Commission accreditation survey is to assess the extent of compliance with applicable Joint Commission standards. Understanding the organization and assessing compliance is accomplished through a number of methods including the following:
- receipt of verbal information concerning implementation of standards, or examples of their implementation, enabling analysis of compliance;
- on-site observation by a Joint Commission surveyor, which will include how you provide patient evaluation; and
- following active patient records throughout the organization to evaluate provision of care, treatment and services.