A guide through the accreditation maze

Accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) carries important financial implications and serves as a testimony to the quality of patient care provided by a hospital or a program. The author briefly reviews changes in the JCAH standards as they apply to psychiatric, alcoholism, and drug abuse programs. He also recommends ways to become familiar with the standards, to prepare for survey by the JCAH, and to organize the staff to function effectively at the time of survey.