A private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of care in
organized healthcare settings. JCAHO evaluates, accredits, consults, and sets
standards for long-term care facilities, ambulatory healthcare organizations,
home care agencies, hospices, hospitals, healthcare delivery networks, and
organizations offering major mental health services. JCAHO offers accreditation
to healthcare organizations throughout the United States, and its standards are
recognized as representing the contemporary national consensus on quality
patient care.