The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is a US based non-profit organization formed in 1951 with a mission to maintain and elevate the standards of healthcare delivery through evaluation and accreditation of healthcare organizations.

JCAHO (commonly referred to phonetically by it’s acronym, pronounced “jay-co”, and also abbreviated to “Joint Commission”) employ surveyors who are sent to healthcare organizations to evaluate their operational practices and facilities. Organizations are then given a score from 1-100, with 100 being a “perfect” score. Health organizations are highly motivated to do well during surveys, as accreditation by JCAHO and other accrediting agencies is a significant factor in gaining reimbursement from Medicare and managed care organizations.

However, hospitals pass JCAHO audits at a 99% rate, leading many, including the Washington Post, to analyze and report on interest conflicts at JCAHO.''The Washington Post: Accreditors Blamed for Overlooking Problems by Gilbert M. Gaul (2005-07-25)

See also

• Hospital

External links

• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

Notes