Do Joint Commission accredits behavioral health facilities?

• A. No, behavioral health facilities are excluded
• B. Yes, behavioral health facilities are included in accreditation programs
• C. Only inpatient behavioral health units are included
• D. Only outpatient behavioral health clinics are included

Answer: (B)

The Joint Commission includes behavioral health settings in its accreditation programs. They offer a Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program specifically for mental health and substance use treatment services, whether the facility stands alone or operates within a hospital system. This program enforces standards across safety, quality of care, treatment planning, staff qualifications, medication management, infection prevention, and other aspects of care delivery. Because behavioral health facilities can meet these national standards, they seek and obtain Joint Commission accreditation. The ideas that behavioral health aren’t included or that only certain types of behavioral health settings are covered aren’t accurate, since the accreditation scope encompasses a wide range of behavioral health care environments, both inpatient and outpatient.