In order for an organization to be accredited under our Hospital program, the following requirements determine eligibility. The organization is located in the United States or its territories or, if outside the United States, is operated by the U.S. government, or under a charter of the U.S. Congress.
- The organization assesses and improves the quality of its services. This process includes a review of care by clinicians, when appropriate.
- The organization identifies the services it provides, indicating which services it provides directly, under contract, or through some other arrangement.
- The organization provides services addressed by the Joint Commission's standards.
In order for an organization to be accredited under our Critical Access Hospital program, the following requirements determine eligibility.
The critical access hospital must be located in the United States or its territories or, if outside the United States, is operated by the U.S. government, or under a charter of the U.S. Congress, meeting the following criteria:
- The nature of the health care practices in the applicant critical access hospital is compatible with the Joint Commission standards and their elements of performance
- With the use of interpreters provided by the critical access hospital, as necessary, the surveyors can effectively communicate with substantially all of the critical access hospital's management and clinical personnel and at least half of the critical access hospital's patients, and can understand medical records and documents that relate to the critical access hospital's performance
United States citizens make up at least 10% of the critical access hospital's patient population, or a United States government agency contracts with the critical access hospital to provide services to United States citizens, or United States citizens preferentially use the critical access hospital in that country.
- The critical access hospital assesses and improves the quality of its services. This process includes a review of care by clinicians, when appropriate.
- The critical access hospital identifies the services it provides, indicating which services it provides directly, under contract, or through some other arrangement.
- The critical access hospital provides services addressed by the Joint Commission's standards.