Joint Commission International
In the US, by far the largest and most respected accreditation agency is the Joint Commission. The commission casts a wide net of evaluation for hospitals and other healthcare facilities and services throughout the US.
When you walk into a hospital or clinic in the US and many other Western countries, chances are good that it’s accredited,meaning that it’s in compliance with standards and “good practices” set by an independent accreditation agency.
Responding to a global demand for accreditation standards, in 1999 the Joint Commission launched JCI, its international affiliate accreditation agency. In order to be accredited, an international healthcare provider must meet the rigorous standards set forth by JCI. Five hundred hospitals, laboratories, and special programs in 53 countries outside the US have earned JCI accreditation. Those who can display the JCI seal have reason to be proud. They have demonstrated a higher quality of patient care and service, while gaining access to a variety of resources that connect them with the international healthcare community.
What Accreditation Means for You
If you’re looking into a treatment that requires hospital care, check to see whether the center is accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI). While JCI accreditation is not essential, it’s an important benchmark and the only official American seal of approval for international hospitals and clinics. Learning that your treatment center is JCI-approved lends a comfort to your research process, and the remainder of your searching and checking need not be as rigorous. That said, many excellent hospitals abroad, although not JCI-approved, have received local accreditation at the same standards as American-approved treatment centers.
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Last updated on 5 May 2013