Joint Commission International (JCI) is a not-for-profit subsidiary of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). JCI accreditation is an award given to healthcare establishments internationally if they meet or exceed JCI standards. The standards for accreditation, which are based on the structures and processes for medical facilities, are classified as achievable expectations and take into account legal, cultural and religious factors localized to the institution that is seeking accreditation.
JCAHO, which is based in the United States, is a certification body that provides accreditation to more than 18,000 hospitals in the U.S. The organization developed JCI to expand this accreditation service globally with a view to providing a quality assurance to medical tourism facilities. JCI is not the only awarding body that can provide accreditation for medical facilities, either in the U.S., Europe, Asia or countries where other medical certification bodies are active. Alternative awarding organizations include the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare providers (NOBH) in India, the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) and the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC) in the United States.
JCI accreditation is provided to healthcare organizations that apply to take part in the JCI accreditation and certification process. Different types of JCI accreditation programs exist for different healthcare services., including primary care, medical transport and ambulatory care. Other areas of accreditation include clinical laboratory, hospital, clinical care program certification and care continuum. There are several benefits of JCI accreditation that, while not necessarily differing from those offered by other accreditation bodies, offer considerable influence because of the strong foundations provided by JCAHO.
A major benefit of JCI accreditation is the creation of a culture in which staff members are willing to report safety concerns and potentially hazardous situations without fear of reprisal and where staff members are given the opportunity to learn and move forward from these concerns and situations. The development of a culture in which staff members can listen to their patients, respect them and their rights and involve them in the care process as far as possible is another learning point provided by the certification program. By undertaking the JCI accreditation program, a healthcare organization can provide a safe working environment for staff members and patients in which continued collaborative leadership can maintain safety and quality levels. JCI accreditation also demonstrates to the public that the organization is highly concerned about patient safety and care, which can lead to an increased level of public trust.