TJC & CMS News Blog
Information for BH Organizations
To read articles written prior to January 2015, please view our Newsletter Archive.
Telehealth Accreditation Today – For Community Behavioral Health (CBH) Providers
Telehealth has moved far beyond its pandemic-era roots. Today, it's not just an option, it's a necessity. For community-based behavioral health providers, virtual care has expanded access, reduced no-shows, and brought services to patients who might otherwise go...
EmPATH Units: Redefining Emergency Psychiatric Care
The U.S. mental health crisis is placing unprecedented strain on emergency departments (EDs). Yet traditional EDs are ill-equipped for patients in acute psychiatric distress—leading to delays in care, increased safety risks, and long boarding times. According to the...
Avoiding Survey Setbacks: Informed Consent and Complaint Resolution for Community Behavioral Health and Human Services Surveys
Accreditation surveys frequently reveal gaps in informed consent procedures and complaint/grievance processes. Such deficiencies can result in citations and threaten the facility's accredited status. Therefore, proactive assessments, staff training, and ongoing...
Accreditation 360 Simplified: Your Guide for Behavioral Health & Psych Hospitals
The Joint Commission (TJC) is leading some of the most significant transformations we've seen in decades. Their "Accreditation 360" initiative, the most substantial update since 1965, signals a profound shift. It's designed to ease administrative burdens, sharpen the...
Behavioral Healthcare Facility Construction
Is a new or remodeled building in your future? Before you embark on a behavioral healthcare facility construction plan, there is one step you should take that's as essential as the architectural drawings - an accreditation and regulatory compliance review! Behavioral...
Get Ready: Major Joint Commission Standards Updates Coming July 1, 2025
The pace of change from The Joint Commission has accelerated markedly this year. With a wave of new and revised standards introduced in quick succession, These revisions signal a significant transformation in how behavioral health organizations and psychiatric...
The Hidden Toll of Layoffs: How Behavioral Health Providers Can Support Mental Wellness After Job Loss
Job loss is more than a financial disruption—it’s a psychological event that can unravel one’s identity, security, and sense of purpose. As layoffs continue to affect industries nationwide, mental wellness after job loss, and the impact on individuals is often...
Cost-Saving Strategies for Psychiatric Hospitals and Community Behavioral Health Care Providers
With rising operational costs driven by inflation, labor shortages, and global volatile tariffs on healthcare supplies and equipment, psychiatric hospitals and community behavioral health providers are under increasing pressure to control spending without compromising...
Gen Z in Behavioral Health: Recruitment and Retention Strategies that Align with Accreditation & Regulatory, Compliance, and Better Outcomes
Amid persistent workforce shortages and changing demographics in behavioral healthcare, psychiatric hospitals and community-based behavioral health, organizations are reimagining recruitment and retention strategies — targeting and attracting Gen Z talent. Generation...
Sentinel Events in Behavioral Health and Psychiatric Hospitals Settings — and How Accreditation and Regulatory Standards Help Prevent Them
In psychiatric hospitals and community behavioral health organizations, the stakes for patient safety are uniquely high. Patients/Clients often present with acute psychological distress, suicidal ideation, or co-occurring medical conditions — all within environments...