Over the past several weeks, The Joint Commission has unveiled a new measure of quality hospitals will need to meet in order to earn accreditation and shared more details about a new effort to support hospitals with quality improvement and safety advancements between surveys.
Below are three recent actions and updates from the accrediting body, starting with the most recent:
- On Oct. 29, The Joint Commission shared more details on its new “Continuous Engagement” model. Hospitals seeking guidance and support on quality improvement between accreditation surveys can opt in to the optional model, which will launch Jan. 1. It is part of the organization’s broader accreditation process overhaul, announced last June.
- In 2026, the accredited body will formally recognize nurse staffing as a national performance goal. Under Goal 12 — a new element of performance — hospitals seeking accreditation must have a nurse executive who has oversight of staffing policies. The rule also requires hospitals to have a registered nurse on duty to provide care or supervise nursing services 24/7. The American Nurses Associated hailed the move as a “defining moment” for the profession. Read more on here.
- The organization named Laura Ryan chief marketing and communications officer Oct. 7. In the role, Ms. Ryan will lead all marketing and branding initiatives at The Joint Commission and report directly to its CEO and president, Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD. She previously led U.S. corporate communications at Ruder Finn, a global communications firm.
