Hospital Information for the Public

About JCAHO Accreditation

By choosing to participate in the accreditation process, an organization asks to be measured against national standards that reflect what health care professionals agree is most conducive to providing quality care in organized health care delivery settings. Achieving accreditation means that an organization substantially complies with JCAHO standards and continuously makes efforts to improve the care and services it provides.

During an accreditation survey, specially trained JCAHO surveyors evaluate the level of an organization’s compliance to JCAHO standards and identify the organization’s strengths and weaknesses.

Accreditation surveys result in performance reports, or report cards, which can be utilized by consumers and health care organizations to ascertain the performance of a given health care organization. The report lists:

• the accreditation status
• the date of the survey
• an evaluation of key areas reviewed during the accreditation survey
• the results of any follow-up activity
• areas needing improvement

The Performance Reports are available to the public. To facilitate access to these reports and comparison of hospitals with one another, the Division has created this web site. To further clarify any terms utilized on this site please visit the glossary of terms webpage.

Accreditation Duration

The time period (three-year) during which a health care organization, found to be in compliance with Joint Commission standards, is awarded accreditation. To maintain accreditation for a three-year or two-year period, satisfactory resolution of any identified issues is required.