Summary: The Joint Commission and the National Association for Healthcare Quality have formed an alliance to advance global healthcare quality, focusing on quality competencies, professional certifications, co-developed training, and global best practices.

Key Takeaways:

  • The alliance emphasizes NAHQ’s Healthcare Quality Competency Framework and offers scholarships for certification in underfunded organizations.
  • Leadership collaboration between both organizations strengthens their shared mission to improve healthcare safety and equity.

The Joint Commission and the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) announced a strategic alliance aimed at advancing global healthcare quality and safety for all.

Shared Vision and Key Initiatives

The alliance stems from a shared vision for safe, high-quality and equitable healthcare between NAHQ, the industry leader in defining quality competencies and developing and certifying the healthcare quality workforce, and The Joint Commission, the world’s premier and most recognized brand in standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare.

With the alliance, The Joint Commission and NAHQ will transform healthcare by:

  • Uniting to a universal set of Quality competencies: The Joint Commission 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. 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.
  • Skilling healthcare professionals: 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.
  • Co-developing 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.
  • Aligning critical missions and approaches: NAHQ 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.

Leadership Collaboration

“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,” says Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, president and chief executive officer, The Joint Commission Enterprise. “The alliance creates something greater than the sum of its parts and we are excited to begin this important work.”

The organizations will remain completely independent. However, to further collaboration and establish a long-term relationship, Perlin will join NAHQ’s Board of Directors, and Stephanie Mercado, president and CEO of NAHQ, will join Joint Commission Resources’ (JCR) Board of Directors, effective Jan. 1, 2025.