Joint Commission Launches Pediatric Hospital Accreditation Initiative

The Joint Commission has announced a pioneering initiative to update its accreditation and certification standards specifically for children’s hospitals, recognizing that children have distinct healthcare needs that differ from adults. This effort aims to remove or revise inapplicable standards currently based on adult care guidelines to ensure safer, more specialized care for pediatric patients. To guide this process, the Joint Commission has established a Children’s Healthcare Advisory Committee led by Michelle Riley-Brown, CEO of Children’s National Hospital, and Michael Anderson, MD, former CEO of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. The committee will consist of top pediatric clinicians and hospital executives who will help create a framework more appropriately tailored to children’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs. Joint Commission President and CEO Jonathan Perlin emphasized that the goal is to add focus to pediatric care standards without increasing burdens on hospitals. This initiative reflects a broader commitment to elevate the quality and safety of care for the nation’s youngest patients and will be a key topic at the upcoming Unify 2025 summit.