July 2013
| Business World Magazine | 127
tals, are two of the online resources that are
available to the public. The annual report
lists hospitals and critical access hospitals
that are leading the way nationally in using
evidence-based care processes closely linked
to positive patient outcomes, while Quality
Check includes Quality Reports on Joint
Commission-accredited organizations and
certified programs. These reports can in-
clude accreditation and certification deci-
sion; National Patient Safety Goal compli-
ance (when applicable); National Quality
Improvement Goals performance (hospitals
only); patient satisfaction data; Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services 30 day mor-
tality rates and 30 day readmission rates for
heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia;
and special quality awards. Quality Check
also provides an easy way to:
• Search for accredited and certified organi-
zations;
• Find organizations by type of service pro-
vided within a geographic area;
• Download free hospital performance mea-
sure results; and
• Print a list of Joint Commission certified
disease-specific care and health care staffing
programs.
CONCLUSION
Joint Commission accreditation and certifi-
cation is a visible commitment by an organi-
zation to improve the safety and quality of
patient care, ensure a safe care environment,
and continually work to reduce risks to pa-
tients and staff. The Joint Commission helps
its accredited and certified organizations to
improve performance, raise the safety and
quality of their patient care, and demonstrate
accountability. For these reasons, providers,
payers and consumers recognize Joint Com-
mission accreditation and certification as
one of the most important seals of approval
in health care.
