In order for an organization to be accredited under our Long Term Care program, the following requirements determine eligibility.
Any health care organization may request Joint Commission Long Term Care accreditation if the following eligibility requirements are met:
- Beds are licensed by the state as nursing home beds excluding intermediate care facilities specializing in care for individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities; or
- Beds are designated as long term care beds under a hospital license (excluding beds belonging to a long term acute care hospital (LTACH) and swing beds); or
- Beds, units, or facilities are certified by Medicare or Medicaid as skilled nursing facility (SNF) beds; or
- Beds, units, or facilities are designated as long term care by a governmental entity, such as the Veterans Health Administration.
- The organization is located within the United States or its territories or, if outside the United States, is operated by the United States government or under a charter of the United States Congress or meets criteria for foreign organization’s eligibility (see Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Long Term Care (CAMLTC) Policies and Procedures);
- 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; and
- The organization provides services addressed by the Joint Commission’s standards.
Organizations undergoing their first survey need to have provided care to at least five residents, with two active at the time of survey. Organizations being resurveyed need to demonstrate twelve months of compliance with the standards.