Regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies

Regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies

Introduction

Regulation involves on making rules governing the healthcare system while accreditation is a seal of approval. The paper reviews on the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) as the accreditation body in US healthcare. This includes the JCAHO history, functioning, public reporting requirements, and it’s impact on healthcare quality and safety. (JCAHO). The agency is a nonprofit organization based in Oakbrook Terrace in Illinois, which is among various governmental regulation and accreditation institutions in healthcare at federal and state levels. The organization currently governs over 22,000 various healthcare organizations and programs within the country.

History of the agency

The JCAHO commonly was originally referred to as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals(JCAH) and was established in 1951.  The agency was renamed Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital in 1965 when the federal government decided that the hospital should meet the agency accreditation. In 1987 JCAH was merged with the Hospital Standardization Program with the American College of physician, American Hospital Association, among other similar programs to become JCAHO. However, in 2008 hospitals were removed from the agencies’ accreditations and agency name shortened to the joint commission. The agency is now the oldest and the largest regulatory body in the USA. (Baker,2017).

Reasons for existence

JCAHO was formed to offer accreditation, quality improvement, and regulation of the healthcare system. The agency was formed in attempts to improve healthcare provision into the members of the public by forming an agency that would provide regulation and accreditation in hospitals and other healthcare facilities

Agency public reporting for quality indicators

JCAHO has an enduring commitment to setting standards and providing noteworthy information of the credited organization to the public. The agency has a program of giving quality reports after gauging the credited organizations as well as commission’s regulation requirements.  Frequent where the public reporting is made after 2 or 3 months after the survey is done to ensure quality and safe healthcare is being disbursed to the members of the public.

Agency functioning

The agency gives accreditation for various healthcare organizations, including hospitals, doctors, nurses laboratory, among other facilities. All members are subject to a three-year accreditation cycle by the agency, while laboratories usually take two years. Accreditation for an organization to function is awarded by successful completion of onsite surveyor team by the agency officials in  checking whether the healthcare have achieved the set standards for regulation

Impact of the agency

JCAHO has a great impact on healthcare organizations in the USA and all over the globe. According to Pileggi et al., (2019), the agency controls over 22,000 US health care organizations and programs mainly on licensing and receipting of Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements and control. JCAHO has an impact on Nursing practice in the development of strategies to address complex nursing situations, such as in identifying key vulnerabilities in patient care. The agency is also has made an impact on the nursing care centers by setting rigorous performance standards. On patient care, JCAHO has a mission of improving public healthcare by ensuring the patient receives the best and highest quality healthcare in the country.

Conclusion

JCAHO is an industry leader in providing accreditation and regulation of the healthcare system in the country. The agency plays an important role in maintaining quality in the healthcare system. This includes setting performance standards to be followed by healthcare institutions in performing crucial elements such as patient care, medication safety, and quality public health.

References

Pileggi, C., Squillace, L., Giordano, M., Papadopoli, R., Bianco, A., & Pavia, M. (2019). Quality in perinatal care: applying performance measurement using a joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations indicators in Italy. BMC medical research methodology, 19(1), 83.

Baker, D. W. (2017). History of The Joint Commission’s pain standards: lessons for today’s prescription opioid epidemic. Jama, 317(11), 1117-1118.