So far in 2026, The Joint Commission has announced a CEO transition plan, launched two outcomes-driven certifications and condensed serious safety event lists.
Here are 14 updates the accrediting body has announced since January, starting with the most recent:
1. On Oct. 21, the organization launched a library of best practices for healthcare companies accredited by The Joint Commission. The library contains more than 150 best practices on topics including infection prevention and control, medication management, physical environment, and The Joint Commission’s National Performance Goals and National Patient Safety Goals.
2. At its annual conference, The Joint Commission gave inaugural global patient safety awards to four organizations on Oct. 1. The winners include:
- The United Arab Emirates Emirates Health Services
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Singapore
- Mafraq Comprehensive Health Center in Jordan
The organization also honored Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and BJC HealthCare as the winner of the 2026 Bernard J. Tyson Award for Pursuit of Healthcare Equity.
3. Following months of national attention to hospital food quality and nutrition, The Joint Commission launched a new, voluntary program to recognize healthcare organizations’ food and nutrition services Sept. 30.
4. Rick Pollack, president and CEO emeritus of the American Hospital Association, received The Joint Commission’s inaugural lifetime service award. Mr. Pollack, who retired in September, served the AHA for 43 years, including more than a decade as CEO and president. The Joint Commission honored him for his work to strengthen hospitals, advance patient outcomes and bolster cybersecurity preparedness in healthcare.
5. On Sept. 23, the organization’s CEO and president, Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD, announced his retirement at the end of 2026. The Joint Commission COO James Merlino, MD, will succeed Dr. Perlin Jan. 1, 2027.
6. The Joint Commission and National Association for Healthcare Quality awarded accredited certifications in healthcare quality to four organizations on Sept. 14: Ashe Memorial Hospital in Jefferson, N.C., Sinai Hospital in Chicago, Mental Health Cooperative in Tennessee and Fortis Hospital in Mohali, India.
7. On June 30, Joint Commission International launched a Center of Excellence Certification, which is designed to give international healthcare organizations an independently validated way to demonstrate expertise in specific clinical service lines. The five service lines are pediatrics, oncology, trauma, orthopedics and maternal-perinatal care.
8. The Joint Commission debuted a Responsible Use of AI in Healthcare certification June 1. The certification recognizes U.S. hospitals and health systems that possess governance, safeguards, monitoring processes and education on responsibly using AI in healthcare settings. The certification does not validate or certify AI products; rather, it assesses ethical and safe AI uses, including standards on risk and bias reduction.
Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health said July 29 it was the first U.S. health system to earn this voluntary certification.
9. On May 6, The Joint Commission and National Association of Community Health Centers announced a partnership aimed at supporting community health centers with continuous improvement clinically and operationally. The two organizations said they plan to launch an accreditation program for community health centers.
10. The Joint Commission and the American Hospital Association created a program to help hospitals continue safe clinical operations during cyber-related technology outages. The program includes a free self-assessment tool for hospitals to identify cyberattack vulnerabilities. For a fee, hospitals can submit their results for expert review.
11. The organization launched its first outcomes-driven certifications March 30: one for perinatal care and the other for cardiac procedures. The perinatal care certification will evaluate hospitals’ maternal and newborn outcomes and patient care experiences, and the cardiac certification will assess operation-specific outcome measures, readmissions and patient experience data.
12. Two of The Joint Commission’s affiliate organizations named new board members March 9. Adolfo Llinás, MD, chief medical officer of Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá in Bogotá, Colombia, joined the Board of Joint Commission Resources. Sarita Mohanty, MD, president and CEO of the SCAN Foundation in Long Beach, Calif., joined the National Quality Forum Board.
13. The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum plan to align their serious safety reporting frameworks. The accrediting body will adopt the NQF’s Serious Reportable Events List across all accredited domestic and international organizations, effective Jan. 1.
14. The National Association for Healthcare Quality and The Joint Commission rolled out a new regulatory and accreditation micro-credential for practical survey readiness. The self-paced program trains healthcare professionals to interpret standards, manage surveys and sustain corrective actions.
Editor’s note: This article was updated Oct. 22.
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