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Recognizing Excellence in Hospital Performance

For over 70 years, Joint Commission has been a trusted partner in helping healthcare organizations identify quality and safety risks through its accreditation survey process.
Beginning January 1, 2026, Joint Commission is amplifying the value of accreditation by formally recognizing performance strengths — novel, innovative and/or exceptional practices — that support the delivery of high-quality efficient and/or safe patient care.

What’s New?

Across Joint Commission’s domestic and international hospital and critical access hospital survey programs, we are expanding our commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in healthcare by introducing a new component to the survey process.

This new process captures patient safety and quality performance strengths — defined as exceptionally strong processes, identified during survey, which support safe and high-quality care and that other organizations can learn from.

When surveyors identify such strengths, they will be documented in a formal SAFEST report shared at the end of the accreditation survey. These practices will also contribute to a growing database of leading practices, designed to become a valuable resource for healthcare organizations globally.

Additionally, we are creating a video library of leading practices to help address the most frequent Requirements for Improvement (RFIs), offering practical solutions to common issues.

Why It Matters

This new approach helps to ensure that hospitals receive balanced, actionable feedback, highlighting both opportunities for improvement and areas of excellence. SAFEST resources can be shared by healthcare leaders to support meaningful discussions with both governance and staff. It’s a step forward in fostering a culture of learning, innovation, and shared success.

Key Benefits:

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Enhanced Survey Value

In addition to areas for improvement identified within the SAFER® Matrix, Joint Commission surveyors will identify performance strengths to provide a more complete picture of organizational performance.
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Formal Recognition

If performance strengths are included within an organization’s final survey report, the organization can choose to share them with leadership, staff, and patients to celebrate success and reinforce leading practices.
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International Recognition

Innovative practices and performance strengths identified during surveys may be considered for inclusion in Joint Commission’s global database of leading practices.

Advancing Excellence in Every Hospital

This new survey enhancement is more than a process change — it’s a recognition of the dedication, innovation, and excellence happening every day in hospitals around the world. By identifying and sharing what works, we’re helping all organizations raise the bar for patient care.