JCAHO takes new approach to quality

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has recently released its 1992 Accreditation Manual for Hospitals. A shorter, more concise version of its 1991 counterpart, the 1992 version marks the beginning of a multi-year transition to standards that emphasize the application of continuous quality improvement principles and concepts. In an effort to clarify some of the changes, Michigan Hospitals asked JCAHO officials to provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the new standards. Following are their responses.