The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations has announced that it is implementing a new policy of unannounced on-site accreditation surveys and certification reviews.  The intent of this new policy is to require organizations to be in compliance at all times.  Making on-site evaluations less predictable and more focused on potential performance issues is intended to satisfy both the public demand for greater organization accountability and organizations demands for greater value from undergoing outside evaluations by an accrediting body such as JCAHO.

       Between 2006 and 2008, an unannounced survey will be done on every organization in the year in which the organization is due for its next survey.  Thereafter, surveys will take place 18 to 39 months following the organization′s previous unannounced visit.