The Joint Commission Announces Accreditation 360: The New Standard

According to a June 30 press release, The Joint Commission announced, “Accreditation 360: The New Standard,” a comprehensive redesign of its healthcare accreditation process aimed at streamlining requirements and focusing more on outcomes and collaboration.

“Healthcare organizations today are navigating historic complexity, and the pressures are enormous,” said Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, president and CEO of the Joint Commission. “Accreditation 360 directly responds to what this moment demands.”

The new approach eliminates more than 700 additional requirements on top of 400 removed last year and introduces tools such as a Continuous Engagement Model, updated Accreditation Manual, and new National Performance Goals (NPGs). The initiative also includes next-generation certifications focused on measurable outcomes in areas such as maternity care and cardiovascular procedures.

“Accreditation is about both upholding the public trust in safety and supporting healthcare organizations in driving their quality agenda,” Perlin said, emphasizing the shift from a purely evaluative model to one that prioritizes “supporting, troubleshooting and best-practice sharing.”

Laura S. Kaiser, president and CEO of SSM Health, called Accreditation 360 “a more collaborative, outcomes-focused approach” that “reflects a deep understanding of the pressures we face.”