Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center has become the first hospital in the U.S. to earn The Joint Commission's new Health Care Equity Certification, which recognizes facilities that make health equity a strategic priority, leading to more equitable outcomes.
To receive the certification, the hospital underwent a comprehensive review in which surveyors evaluated 40 program-specific standards and data points centered on patient care, socioeconomic information, staff education, recruitment and retention, and more.
The Joint Commission launched the voluntary program in July, describing it as "well-suited for organizations that are already on their journey to healthcare equity and would like to formalize structures, processes and goals for identifying and addressing health disparities." Shortly into the launch, the accrediting body is seeing vast interest in the program and has received numerous applications.
The certification process takes around four to six months.