What is JCI?

JCI stands for Joint Commission International. The organization is an accrediting organization, which is a process of assessing a medical facility to make sure it meets basic standards and requirements involved in providing quality of care.

Throughout the United States and the world, undergoing the accreditation process is voluntary and provides a means of gauging the commitment of any healthcare facility or a provider to ensure a safe environment as well as reduce risks to both patients and staff members. The most commonly used evaluation and management method around the world, JCI credentials are an important measure of the credibility and quality of a multitude of medical facilities.

What is JCI's Function and Mission?
The Joint Commission International supports quality care among healthcare organizations around the globe and works with the World Health Organization, and with national accreditation programs and agencies, in a multitude of countries.  JCI standards as well as evaluation methods are created by health professionals in a multitude of health sectors, and can be tested in all world regions. The standards of the Joint Commission International apply to health care organizations and systems and are designed to support and sustain improvement in patient care and safety.

The JCI governing body includes experts from around the world and bases its decision on an international committee of health care experts as well as standard revisions offered by advisory councils from different regions.

The goals of the Joint Commission International are to reduce risks, adverse effects, and consistently improve healthcare methods and procedures. The JCI works with hospitals, health providers, medical consultants, government agencies, and patients to provide standards, rules, and processes for medical facilities.

Understanding JCI Accreditation mean?
The Joint Commission began to partake in international accreditation in the late 1990s, and the standards of the Joint Commission International are based on design, expectations, processes and outcomes for standards in global hospitals and medical facilities. JCI accreditation team members help to ensure quality of patient care as well as to evaluate and offer suggestions for improvement in health care organizations and hospitals.

JCI team members rate levels of compliance to basic and core requirements, as well as to additional standards that offer the opportunity for healthcare facilities to meet the highest expectations of quality and best practice services and procedures.

Many facilities and organizations undergo the certification on a periodic basis, which facilitates continued quality of care and focus on providing patient safety and compliance on a long-term basis.

Benefits of JCI-accredited facilities
The Joint Commission International uses its standards and guidelines to approve quality health care not only in medical facilities and hospitals, but also in laboratories, long-term-care scenarios, rehabilitation units, and assisted living environments. Standards are also applied to emergency transport services and private and public ambulance systems.

JCI accredited facilities offer peace of mind to consumers, who can be guaranteed that standards and quality will offer comprehensive care in a wide range of medical needs, procedures and services. 

The Joint Commission International is based in the United States and is a part of the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations in the United States. The JCI has accredited hospitals in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

Conclusion
More hospitals around the world are seeking JCI accreditation, especially due to the large influx of medical tourists in such countries as India, Thailand, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina and European destinations such as Poland and Hungary. Keep in mind that many countries have their own organizations that develop standards and regulations that are similar to those developed by the JCI.

Consumers and visitors may use the accreditation process or credentials to evaluate physician staff as well as facilities to gauge the credibility and quality of care provided by any potential care provider. As always when seeking medical treatments or procedures, take the time to research not only medical facilities, but also the standards of care provided by that facility, as well as the credentials of physicians and staff members.