On June 30, 2025, Joint Commission launched Accreditation 360: The New Standard, a simplified accreditation standard for hospitals and health care provider organizations. The new approach has fewer requirements and a strong focus on consumer outcomes, according to the announcement. It is intended to streamline and simplify processes and more efficiently share best practices across the health care ecosystem.
As part of the update, Joint Commission removed 714 outdated requirements from the hospital accreditation program, and introduced a suite of new tools for benchmarking and performance support. To support transparency, starting in July 2025, Joint Commission is posting the standards online in a format searchable by the public. Joint Commission stated in the announcement that the introduction of Accreditation 360 marks the most significant, comprehensive evolution of its accreditation process since 1965.
The updated Accreditation manual more clearly identifies Conditions of Participation set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It merges the remaining requirements and National Patient Safety Goals into Joint Commission National Performance Goals. The accreditation requirements are grouped into 14 National Patient Safety Goals covering areas related to preventing harm to consumers, improving outcomes, and creating a safer environment for all.
The new approach shifts the focus from observation of structure and process to outcome measures. To support this approach, the National Quality Forum (NQF), a Joint Commission affiliate, is introducing a next-generation certification program, starting with four key areas prioritized by consumers, clinical professionals, health systems, payers, and purchasers: Maternity Care; Hip & Knee Procedural Care; Spine Procedural Care; and Cardiovascular Procedural Care.
To share best practices related to safety and quality improvement, Joint Commission is introducing the Survey Analysis For Evaluating STrengths (SAFEST) Program to recognize leading practices at accredited organizations. The SAFEST Program will evolve into a database of leading practices where surveyors can access organizations’ performance strengths for industry-wide collaborative learning.
Joint Commission has been setting health care quality and consumer safety standards since 1951. It currently evaluates more than 23,000 health care organizations and programs across the United States.
This was reported by Joint Commission on June 30, 2025 (accessed July 22, 2025).
Additional guidance and information, including a rollout timeline for the various components, can be found online (accessed July 21, 2025).
For more information, contact: Katie Bronk, Corporate Communications, Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181; 630-792-5175; Email: press@jointcommission.org; Website: https://www.jointcommission.org/
August 2025 00US25EUA0023