The Joint Commission is best described as:

• A. A patient advocacy group
• B. A federal regulatory agency
• C. An organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations and programs in the United States
• D. A hospital reimbursement program

Answer: (C)

The Joint Commission is an independent nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. It builds and enforces standards for patient safety and quality of care, then conducts on-site surveys to verify that organizations meet those standards. Accreditation is voluntary, but it’s highly valued and, for many facilities, CMS recognizes Joint Commission accreditation as meeting federal requirements to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. This distinguishes it from a patient advocacy group, a federal regulatory agency, or a hospital reimbursement program, since its primary role is accreditation and certification rather than advocacy, government regulation, or payment.