Joint Commission launches children’s hospital accreditation effort – Becker’s Hospital Review | Healthcare News

The Joint Commission has launched a specialized initiative that aims to address what it calls “gaps” in how children’s hospitals are accredited and certified. 

According to the organization, national standards do not currently distinguish between the healthcare needs of adults and children, but “[t]he reality is children are not simply ‘small adults,’” Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD, president and CEO of the Joint Commission Enterprise, said in a statement.

In response to the children’s healthcare community, the Joint Commission formed a children’s healthcare advisory committee to develop a specialized accreditation and certification framework by “aiming to remove and/or revise inapplicable standards.”

The committee will be led by Michelle Riley-Brown, president and CEO of Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., and Michael Anderson, MD, pediatric intensivist and former CEO of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco. 

“We’re not just redefining standards — we’re building a future where leading children’s health experts are shaping the national conversation on healthcare excellence,” Dr. Anderson said. “This collaborative initiative is ensuring that quality and safety are not only preserved but amplified across children’s healthcare settings, enabling a better understanding of how we can best keep our loved ones safe and cared for.”