The Joint Commission has acquired the National Quality Forum with the goal of consolidating quality measures.
The NQF will maintain its independence in developing consensus-based measures, implementation guidance and practices that benefit stakeholders but both will build on measuring quality and rationalizing the measurement landscape, according to an Aug. 16 news release from the organization.
The affiliation will bolster The Joint Commission's processes for accreditation and certification and NQF's measures for affordable improvements to health for all, the release said.
"Bringing these two organizations together should foster a collaborative process where everyone works together to create streamlined and consistent clinical performance measurement supporting better patient care outcomes, as well as more helpful clinician and provider transparency," Charles Kahn III, president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, said in the release.