Joint Commission, Quality Association Form Alliance
Although they will remain independent, The Joint Commission and the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) have announced a strategic alliance to advance healthcare quality and safety.
The organizations say the alliance stems from a shared vision for 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 accrediting body in healthcare.
As part of the alliance, The Joint Commission said it endorses and encourages healthcare organizations to adopt NAHQ’s 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. It will not be scored or determinative of survey or review outcome.
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 obtain and maintain this certification. Furthermore, The Joint Commission and NAHQ will jointly offer 25 annual scholarships to fund CPHQ attainment in underfunded organizations.
The two organizations say they will co-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 micro-credentials aligned with each of the eight domains of its Healthcare Quality Competency Framework, including a micro-credential in Regulatory & Accreditation in collaboration with The Joint Commission.
NAHQ said it recognizes and endorses Joint Commission and JCI accreditation and certification approaches and products as best practices for assessing quality and safety within healthcare organizations around the world.
“Our shared missions to improve healthcare safety, quality and equity for all create a powerful synergy enabling and affirming the highest standards of healthcare delivery,” said Jonathan B. Perlin, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, The Joint Commission Enterprise, in a statement. “The alliance creates something greater than the sum of its parts and we are excited to begin this important work.”
“This alliance is a massive step toward our mission of adoption of a universal quality competency framework and standardized education and certification of the workforce,” added Stephanie Mercado, president and CEO of NAHQ, in a statement. “It’s a huge win for achieving our two organizations’ shared vision of better healthcare quality and safety — and better healthcare — for everyone.”
To further collaboration and establish a long-term relationship, Perlin will join NAHQ’s board of directors, and Mercado will join Joint Commission Resources’ (JCR) board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
In January 2024, Perlin sat down with Healthcare Innovation to discuss several Joint Commission initiatives.
