Although they will remain independent, the Joint Commission and the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) have announced a strategic alliance to promote the quality and safety of healthcare.
The organizations say the alliance arises from a shared vision of safe, high-quality and equitable healthcare between NAHQ, whose focus is defining quality competencies and developing and certifying the healthcare quality workforce, and The Joint Commission , a leading standards-setting and accreditation body. in health.
As part of the alliance, the Joint Commission said it supports and encourages healthcare organizations to adopt the NAHQ Healthcare Quality Competency Framework, which defines the full spectrum of work required for a high-functioning quality program. . However, this framework will not be a requirement for Joint Commission accreditation or certification. The outcome of the survey or review will not be graded or determined.
NAHQ offers the only accredited certification in healthcare quality through its Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) Certification. To support the importance of competency development, Joint Commission and Joint Commission International (JCI) surveyors and reviewers will earn and maintain this certification. Additionally, the Joint Commission and NAHQ will jointly offer 25 annual scholarships to fund CPHQ achievement in underfunded organizations.
The two organizations say they will jointly develop best-in-class training and education. The alliance will create training and education on the most critical topics in healthcare, along with other global products and services. NAHQ will develop a series of microcredentials aligned with each of the eight domains of its Healthcare Quality Competency Framework, including a microcredential in Regulation and Accreditation in collaboration with The Joint Commission.
NAHQ said it recognizes and supports the Joint Commission and JCI accreditation and certification approaches and products as best practices for assessing quality and safety within healthcare organizations worldwide.
“Our shared missions to improve the safety, quality and equity of healthcare for all create a powerful synergy that enables and affirms the highest standards of healthcare delivery,” said Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, Ph.D. ., president and CEO of The Joint Commission Company, in a statement. “The alliance creates something greater than the sum of its parts and we are excited to begin this important work.”
“This partnership is a big step toward our mission to embrace a universal quality competency framework and standardized workforce education and certification,” Stephanie Mercado, president and CEO of NAHQ, added in a statement. “This is a major victory in achieving our two organizations’ shared vision of improved health care quality, safety, and better healthcare for all.”
To promote collaboration and establish a long-term relationship, Perlin will join the board of directors of NAHQ and Mercado will join the board of directors of Joint Commission Resources (JCR), effective January 1, 2025.
In January 2024, Perlin sat down with Healthcare Innovation to discuss several Joint Commission initiatives.
