Joint Commission
A U.S. nonprofit accrediting body for healthcare organizations
Definition
The Joint Commission (TJC) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies more than 22,000 U.S. healthcare organizations. Accreditation signals a commitment to safety and quality.
National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs)
- Identify patients correctly (two identifiers)
- Improve staff communication (SBAR, read-back of verbal orders)
- Use medications safely (look-alike/sound-alike, reconciliation)
- Use alarms safely
- Prevent infection (hand hygiene, device-related infections)
- Identify patient safety risks (suicide risk)
- Prevent mistakes in surgery (universal protocol, time-out)
Nursing Implications
Adhere to NPSGs in daily practice. Participate in root cause analyses. Use evidence-based bundles and tools. Advocate for quality improvements.
NCLEX Relevance
Two-patient-identifier rule and time-out are tested regularly.