The commission will launch a new Telehealth Accreditation Program for eligible hospitals, ambulatory and behavioral providers, effective July 1. The program is designed for providers that exclusively provide treatment via telehealth, according to an April 23 news release from The Joint Commission.
The program requirements have standards similar to other accreditation programs, including information management, leadership, patient identification and other safety standards. Telehealth-specific standards include remote emergency management requirements and standards for provider and patient education on telehealth platforms.
Providers will also have to meet standards on telehealth equipment, devices and connectivity, according to the news release.
The accreditation is designed to help providers “standardize care and reduce risk so that all patients, including those obtaining services remotely, receive the safest, highest-quality care with outcomes consistent with traditional settings,” Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD, The Joint Commission CEO, said in the release.