Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Accreditation
Prepublication Requirements: Requirement Revisions Related to NFPA Codes and CMS CoPs
Outlines new and revised Joint Commission requirements for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) effective March 1, 2026. Changes clarify elements of performance (EPs) based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements and further align Joint Commission standards with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs).
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Outlines new and revised Joint Commission requirements for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) effective March 1, 2026. Changes clarify elements of performance (EPs) based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements and further align Joint Commission standards with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs).
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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R3 Report: National Patient Safety Goal for Suicide Prevention
Establishes safety goals and practices for suicide prevention in Joint Commission-accredited hospitals. Highlights specific requirements for accredited Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Establishes safety goals and practices for suicide prevention in Joint Commission-accredited hospitals. Highlights specific requirements for accredited Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation for Rural Providers, with Kevin Biese and Natalie Elder
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Kevin Biese, MD, Chair of the Board of the American College of Emergency Physicians Geriatric Emergency Accreditation program, and Natalie Elder, MD, Director of Geriatric Emergency Medicine for the University of Vermont Health Network. Focuses on the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation and the standards of rural geriatric care that it ensures.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Kevin Biese, MD, Chair of the Board of the American College of Emergency Physicians Geriatric Emergency Accreditation program, and Natalie Elder, MD, Director of Geriatric Emergency Medicine for the University of Vermont Health Network. Focuses on the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation and the standards of rural geriatric care that it ensures.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Telehealth: 2026 National Patient Safety Goals
Identifies National Patient Safety Goals for the Joint Commission's Telehealth Accreditation Program. Covers patient and resident identification, caregiver communication, medication safety, suicide prevention, and more. Effective January 1, 2026.
Additional links: Simplified Version
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Identifies National Patient Safety Goals for the Joint Commission's Telehealth Accreditation Program. Covers patient and resident identification, caregiver communication, medication safety, suicide prevention, and more. Effective January 1, 2026.
Additional links: Simplified Version
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Critical Access Hospital: 2026 National Patient Safety Goals
Identifies National Patient Safety Goals for the Joint Commission's Critical Access Hospital Accreditation Program. Covers emergency management, infection prevention, pain management and safe prescribing practices, suicide prevention, workplace and patient safety, and more. Effective January 1, 2026.
Additional links: Simplified Version
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Identifies National Patient Safety Goals for the Joint Commission's Critical Access Hospital Accreditation Program. Covers emergency management, infection prevention, pain management and safe prescribing practices, suicide prevention, workplace and patient safety, and more. Effective January 1, 2026.
Additional links: Simplified Version
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Rural Health Clinic: 2026 National Patient Safety Goals
Identifies National Patient Safety Goals for the Joint Commission's Rural Health Clinic Accreditation Program. Covers patient identification, medication safety, infection prevention, and more. Effective January 1, 2026.
Additional links: Simplified Version
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Identifies National Patient Safety Goals for the Joint Commission's Rural Health Clinic Accreditation Program. Covers patient identification, medication safety, infection prevention, and more. Effective January 1, 2026.
Additional links: Simplified Version
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Critical Access Hospital and Hospital Requirements Streamlined to Reduce Burden
Outlines streamlined Joint Commission requirements for accreditation and Elements of Performance (EPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Includes links to survey process guides, disposition reports, and crosswalk and crosswalk compare reports for each deemed program's Conditions of Participation and the equivalent Joint Commission EPs.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Outlines streamlined Joint Commission requirements for accreditation and Elements of Performance (EPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Includes links to survey process guides, disposition reports, and crosswalk and crosswalk compare reports for each deemed program's Conditions of Participation and the equivalent Joint Commission EPs.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Exploring Strategies for Small Local & Tribal Health Departments to Succeed in Accreditation
A recorded webinar that discusses challenges small and tribal health departments face when preparing for the accreditation process. Provides guidance and strategies to help accelerate and achieve accreditation. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slides
Author(s): Peg Allen, Matthew Fifolt, Amy Belflower Thomas, Jennifer Clarke-Lofters
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Public Health Accreditation Board
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A recorded webinar that discusses challenges small and tribal health departments face when preparing for the accreditation process. Provides guidance and strategies to help accelerate and achieve accreditation. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slides
Author(s): Peg Allen, Matthew Fifolt, Amy Belflower Thomas, Jennifer Clarke-Lofters
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Public Health Accreditation Board
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North Dakota Critical Access Hospital Conditions of Participation (CoP) Checklist
Provides a checklist for establishing a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in North Dakota. Details the required documentation, policies, and information needed by the state survey team to meet the CAH certification standards.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Provides a checklist for establishing a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in North Dakota. Details the required documentation, policies, and information needed by the state survey team to meet the CAH certification standards.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Hospital Accreditation Status and Treatment Differences among Black Patients with Colon Cancer
Examines likelihood of receiving guideline-concordant care and risk of mortality for Black patients with colon cancer at Commission on Cancer (CoC) accredited hospitals relative to non-CoC accredited hospitals. Utilizes 2019-2020 United States Cancer Statistics database data. Includes data on the association between patient characteristics, including rurality, and attendance at accredited versus nonaccredited hospitals.
Author(s): Kelley Chan, Bryan E. Palis, Joseph H. Cotler, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(8), e2429563
Date: 08/2024
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Examines likelihood of receiving guideline-concordant care and risk of mortality for Black patients with colon cancer at Commission on Cancer (CoC) accredited hospitals relative to non-CoC accredited hospitals. Utilizes 2019-2020 United States Cancer Statistics database data. Includes data on the association between patient characteristics, including rurality, and attendance at accredited versus nonaccredited hospitals.
Author(s): Kelley Chan, Bryan E. Palis, Joseph H. Cotler, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(8), e2429563
Date: 08/2024
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