Evolution of quality assurance reflected in new standard. Staff, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals.

The new quality assurance standard, which should help hospitals to identify optimum methods for improving patient care and clinical performance and to be recognized for all rational and purposeful efforts at improvement, will take time to implement. In its continuing effort to help hospitals upgrade the quality of patient care, the JCAH is committed to implementing the new quality assurance standard in a manner that will not be disruptive to participating hospitals. The JCAH is also committed to ascertaining that hospitals are making every effort to comply with the standard. The degree to which a hospital does comply with the standard will be a persuasive factor in determining accreditation status.