The Joint Commission Fact Sheet
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission accredits or certifies more than 23,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States.
Mission: Enabling and affirming the highest standards of healthcare quality and patient safety for all.
Vision: All people always experience the safest, highest quality, best-value healthcare across all settings.
An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards setting and accrediting body in healthcare. To earn and maintain The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval®, an organization undergoes an on-site survey by a Joint Commission survey team at least every three years. (Laboratories are surveyed every two years.)
The Joint Commission is governed by a 21-member Board of Commissioners that includes physicians, administrators, nurses, educators, and safety, quality, and innovation experts. The Joint Commission employs approximately 1,400 people in its field staff, at its central office in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, and in Washington, D.C.
The Joint Commission accredits or certifies a variety of healthcare settings and services. For more information, visit jointcommission.org.
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- Accreditation and certification
- Benefits of accreditation and certification
- Standards
- Survey process
- Find accredited organizations
- Joint Commission Resources (education, publications, consulting)