As Accreditation 360 rolls out in January 2026, the Joint Commission explains what’s changing, what isn’t, and how HTM teams can prepare.
By Alyx Arnett
Starting Jan 1, 2026, the Joint Commission will begin using a reorganized accreditation model that changes how standards are structured and reported—but not how surveys are carried out. The new framework, known as Accreditation 360, removes more than 700 requirements and better aligns with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with a greater focus on outcomes.
For healthcare technology management (HTM) teams, the biggest change is not new expectations, but where familiar requirements appear in the updated manual. Surveyors will continue to use the same tracer-based approach, and core HTM responsibilities—such as equipment inventories, preventive maintenance, and risk management—will be reviewed as they are today. As The Joint Commission notes, “If HTM managers are survey-ready today, they will be survey-ready in 2026.”
In this Q&A, the Joint Commission‘s Jennifer Anderson, DNP, APRN, CNS, director of department of standards and survey methods, global accreditation and certification product development, and Jim Grana, MBA, CHSP, CLSS-HC, field director, life safety code surveyors, break down what HTM professionals need to know as the new model takes effect, including how survey findings may be organized differently, where to look if a familiar requirement seems to be missing, and what to prioritize early in the transition.
With the new accreditation model, what changes will HTM teams notice?
The survey process should feel the exact same. Joint Commission is using the same tracer methodology that we always have. What will look different is where opportunities are identified in the survey report due to the numbering changes from the manual rewrite.
What aspects of the previous accreditation structure weren’t working well and prompted this reorganization?
Joint Commission identified opportunities to streamline expectations for healthcare organizations by more closely aligning our elements of performance to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Conditions of Participation (CoPs). Any existing requirements that rise above regulation, excluding the “medical staff” chapter, were consolidated into a new “national performance goals” chapter to more clearly distinguish regulatory from non-regulatory requirements. Medical equipment will continue to be evaluated to ensure that organizations are meeting the CoPs.
If an HTM team can’t find a requirement they’re used to seeing, where should they look first in the new structure?
On Joint Commission’s website, there is a prepublication page that houses multiple resources to help healthcare organizations prepare for upcoming surveys. On that webpage, there is a disposition report that lists current requirements and where that topic will be covered starting Jan 1, 2026. If you know the CoP the requirement is mapped to, you can also use the “crosswalk compare” tool to find the new requirement as well.
What should HTM managers focus on early in 2026?
Joint Commission highly recommends organizations review its Survey Process Guide, also found on the prepublication page, to review the current requirements and survey process associated with them. This also includes the Document Review Tool and other survey readiness guides.
In past surveys, which HTM areas were most often cited?
Typically, HTM has been scored for having an incomplete inventory or assigned risk categories. Alternatively, they have been scored for not completing required inspection, testing, and maintenance on the inventory within the required assigned timeframes.
How will surveyors review core HTM responsibilities within the reorganized format?
The survey process related to HTM responsibilities will remain the same as it is today. Surveyors will evaluate inventories and conduct risk assessments of equipment on the inventory. They also will perform tracers on a sampling of equipment to determine that inspection, testing, and maintenance has been completed
The new model places greater emphasis on outcomes. For HTM, what types of performance results or trends might surveyors pay closer attention to?
Joint Commission allows organizations to determine which performance trends are identified within their organization. Our surveyors then determine which HTM projects have been identified as a priority and survey those.
During the first year of this transition, what’s the best way for HTM departments to confirm they haven’t overlooked anything that was reorganized, renamed, or removed?
We highly encourage organizations to become familiar with the survey process guide. Joint Commission also has several communication channels, including its weekly e-newsletter, to make sure our accredited healthcare organizations have all the current, up-to-date information they need to know.
Will the rollout of the new model include updated training for surveyors on HTM-related areas?
Joint Commission surveyors are receiving extensive training on the entire manual rewrite to ensure consistency.
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Alyx Arnett is chief editor of 24×7. Questions or comments? Email [email protected].
