2026 Joint Commission National Performance Goals for the Hospital

Goal 1: The hospital ensures that the correct patient receives the correct care at the correct time.

Goal one establishes essential hospital patient care protocols: including accurate patient identification, timely communication of critical information, surgical site verification, effective patient flow management, and timely response to changes in patient condition and emergencies

Goal 2: The governing body and leadership team foster a culture of safety.

Goal two instructs the governing body and leadership team to foster a culture of safety by ensuring that the hospital's mission, vision, and goals guide its actions. This involves addressing conflicts of interest and ethics, designing work processes focused on safety and quality, and implementing a workplace violence prevention program

Goal 3: The hospital has an emergency management program.

Goal three establishes a hospital's comprehensive emergency management program, detailing the responsibilities of hospital leadership to oversee and support emergency and disaster preparedness. The program is based on an "all-hazards" approach to address any potential emergency. Key components of the goal include creating detailed plans for communication, staffing, patient care, and safety and security during an emergency, as well as a disaster recovery strategy. The goal guidelines includes continuous training, regular exercises to test response procedures, and ongoing evaluation to ensure readiness.

Goal 4: The hospital prioritizes excellent health outcomes for all.

The hospital commits to prioritizing health outcomes for all patients by identifying disparities and social needs, implementing action plans with dedicated leadership, and transparently tracking progress and adjusting strategies as needed.

Goal 5: The hospital prioritizes infection prevention and control.

The hospital prioritizes infection prevention and control by implementing a program that includes ongoing surveillance, prevention, and control activities.

Goal 6: The hospital prioritizes pain management and safe prescribing practices.

Hospitals prioritize pain assessment and management through structured leadership, safety-focused prescribing, and rigorous data analysis.

Goal 7: The hospital respects the patient's right to safe, informed care.

Ensure patients are active, informed participants in their care through effective communication, ensuring dignity, and screening for abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Goal 8: The hospital reduces the risk for suicide.

Hospitals prioritize the early identification and safe management of at-risk patients

Goal 9: The hospital develops and implements safe transplant practices.

Hospitals have rigorous tracking and safe handling procedures for tissues and organs to prevent medical errors and disease transmission.

Goal 10: The hospital performs waived testing in a safe and consistent manner.

Hospitals perform simple, low-risk laboratory tests in a safe and consistent manner.

Goal 11: The hospital maintains workplace and patient safety.

Hospitals create a secure and safe physical environment.

Goal 12: The hospital is staffed to meet the needs of the patients it serves, and staff are competent to provide safe, quality care.

Hospitals prioritize the identification and reduction of health disparities as a strategic organizational objective.

Goal 13: The hospital safely performs imaging services.

Hospitals prioritize the safe performance of imaging services for both patients and staff.

Goal 14: The hospital has a medication management program that focuses on safety.

The hospital safely manages pharmaceutical services through a multi-faceted approach that encompasses the entire medication management lifecycle.