to main content Evolving with Care for Ambulatory Health Care | The Joint Commission

Impact of COVID-19

Read what other professionals like you are saying about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their ambulatory surgical centers.

Impact of COVID-19 on ambulatory surgical centers

New Protocols for On-site Surveys 

Prior to survey scheduling, The Joint Commission is first taking into account the number of COVID-19 cases by county. For areas deemed appropriate for an on-site evaluation, surveyors are required to wear a face covering throughout the survey and practice appropriate physical distancing.

Surveyors will not be permitted to travel if they display symptoms or report close contact with anyone with COVID-19.  On-site, surveyors will not enter areas with  COVID-19 positive patients and will observe from a distance or remotely.

Virtual Survey Process

In addition to updating our on-site survey protocols, we’ve implemented a virtual survey process during this public health crisis for organizations where in-person reviews are not a viable option.

If it’s determined that your organization is eligible for a virtual survey to reach its quality objectives with less risk and greater peace of mind, a member of our team will contact you with the next steps. You won’t sacrifice any of the things that make the Joint Commission “the gold standard” in accreditation:

  • Surveyors seamlessly facilitate the virtual event while providing the highest level of knowledge and expertise
  • The ability to upload documents ahead of time helps streamline discussions during the actual survey event
  • An on-site survey will occur once the public health emergency has ended (applicable to deemed ASCs)

Infection Control Focus

Through dedicated infection control standards and expert surveyors well-versed in the CDC recommendations, we will model the correct implementation of infection prevention and control strategies to educate and support the ambulatory care organizations we survey.

Timely Resources

Here we have gathered some key resources to help ambulatory care providers address patient safety and quality challenges accelerated due to COVID-19 such as infection prevention and control, and emergency management.
Infection Prevention and Control resourcesEmergency Management resourcesCOVID-19 resources

Additional Resources and Tools from JCR

Joint Commission Resources® (JCR®) offers a vast portfolio of virtually-delivered tools and resources to help you get and stay survey ready, address specific quality challenges or respond and recover during these unsettling times. Explore JCR’s latest educational programs or our innovative e-products including Tracers with AMP® that can help quality-focused leaders more effectively identify risk, implement and monitor improvements by streamlining data collection and reporting.

JCR offerings for ambulatory health care

Contact Us

Have questions? Currently accredited organizations or recent applicants should contact their account executive for more information. If you’re new to the accreditation process, submit your question and our friendly staff will reach out.
Contact us