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In 1917 the American College of Surgeons (ACS) was
founded, and developed the Minimum Standard for Hospitals, based on
the work of Codman and Franklin Martin, M.D.
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Results of surveys, begun the following year, showed
only 14% of hospitals met the minimal standards
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In 1951 the American College of Physicians (ACS), the
American Hospital Association the American Medical Association and
the Canadian Medical Association (later to form its own organization)
joined with the ACS to create the Joint Commission on Accreditation
of Hospitals (JCAH), an independent, not-for-profit organization, whose
primary purpose was to provide voluntary accreditation
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In 1952, JCAH began accrediting hospitals
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In 1965, Congress passed the Social Security Amendments,
stating that hospitals “accredited by JCAH are 'deemed'
to be in compliance with most of the Medicare Conditions of Participation
for Hospitals and, thus, able to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid
programs”
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Five percent of hospitals nationwide receive
a follow-up CMS survey to validate JCAHO findings
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In 1987 JCAH became the Joint Commission on Accreditation
of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) to reflect its expanded scope
of activities that include behavioral health, long-term care, pathology
(labs), home care and hospice, dental and ambulatory care
