WEEKLY UPDATE: 01/22/26
This week, hospital staff from across the state convened at the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) in Wallingford for a comprehensive conference to review and learn strategies to operationalize Joint Commission’s updated accreditation standards. Joint Commission, a private accrediting organization, is an independent nonprofit that partners with thousands of healthcare organizations across the country to drive continuous improvement in quality and patient safety.
The new Accreditation 360 program, developed in collaboration with the National Quality Forum (NQF), streamlines the accreditation and certification processes, promotes a publicly accessible version of the standards, and introduces additional resources to support the dissemination of data-driven insights and solutions.
The revised accreditation manual also clarifies the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs). Healthcare organizations must prove compliance with CoPs to receive federal payment from Medicare or Medicaid. The certification is based on either a survey conducted by a state agency on behalf of the federal government or by a national accrediting organization, such as Joint Commission, recognized by CMS. During these on-site evaluations, trained surveyors objectively assess various aspects of healthcare delivery, including patient care, medication management, infection control, and overall organizational performance.
Joint Commission accreditation demonstrates hospitals’ and health systems’ commitment to continuous improvement. It signifies that a hospital achieves or exceeds rigorous standards to mitigate risks, prevent harm, and enhance outcomes while constantly adapting practices to align with the latest safety science.
