Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

Beginning in January 2006, the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) will perform unannounced surveys of healthcare organizations and programs seeking accreditation. According to the JCAHO’s triennial schedule, Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services can expect a visit from JCAHO sometime after January 1, 2008.

The Hospital’s last survey was performed in March 2005. Since 1951, JCAHO has focused its efforts on improving patient safety and quality of care by maintaining stringent standards. Its accreditation process evaluates compliance of these standards, along with other accreditation requirements. JCAHO accredits and evaluates more than 15,000 programs in the United States.

Prior to JCAHO’s unannounced surveys, healthcare organizations knew exactly when accreditation surveys would be conducted. According to JCAHO, this new survey process allows organizations and programs granted accreditation to validate their systems improvement efforts on a continuous basis, rather than completing a compliance exercise on a pre-announced date.

If you have any concerns about the patient care and safety that RMCHCS provides, that RMCHCS has not addressed, we encourage you bring these concerns to management as soon as possible. We want to listen to you so that we can respond in an appropriate way. Please call us at 505-863-7004.

If your concerns cannot be resolved through the organization, then you are encouraged to contact the Joint Commission’s Office of Quality Monitoring by calling 1-800-994-6610 or e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can be reassured that calling the JCAHO with your concerns can be done without fear of retribution or retaliation.