Barrins Bulletin
March 2026
Greetings to Our Colleagues in Behavioral Health!
Dear Readers,
As we move into March, our focus turns to one of our most critical responsibilities as healthcare leaders: protecting patients through vigilance, transparency, and systems that actively support safe care.
Psychiatric hospitals and community-based behavioral health organizations operate under different regulatory frameworks, yet the lessons are remarkably similar. Policies alone do not prevent harm. Documentation alone does not ensure protection. True safety is reflected in daily leadership behaviors, well-designed processes, and a culture where team members feel safe to speak up without fear of blame.
Accreditors are moving beyond checklist compliance. Surveyors increasingly assess whether systems are reliable, leadership responses are consistent, and safety culture is visible, measurable, and acted upon.
In this month’s issue, we examine sentinel events in psychiatric settings and serious adverse events in behavioral health programs, highlighting national trends, regulatory expectations, and practical strategies to shift from reactive correction to proactive risk reduction. We also underscore the foundational role of a strong Culture of Safety—because without it, even the best policies fall short.
Whether you lead an inpatient psychiatric hospital or a community-based program, the question remains: Are we building systems where safety is embedded in daily operations, reinforced by leadership, and meaningfully measured?
I hope this month’s newsletter offers practical insight and renewed commitment to strengthening the culture that protects those we serve.
Warm Regards,
Yvonne Rockwood
MBA, MHA, CPHQ
Senior Vice President
You don’t need more stress, more manuals, or more surprises. You need a seasoned partner who will stand with you — from planning through survey day and beyond.
Barrins & Associates helps psychiatric hospitals, behavioral health organizations, substance use treatment programs, and more strengthen staff readiness through customized education and training designed to support accreditation success.
Whether your team needs guidance on standards, survey readiness, or focused regulatory topics, we tailor our training to your setting, services, and goals.
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Joint Commission (JC)
Accreditation 360: The New Standard
JC’s comprehensive Hospital Manual overhaul of its accreditation model took effect January 1, 2026. This shift streamlines standards, emphasizes outcomes over process checklists, and replaces traditional National Patient Safety Goals with National Performance Goals that prioritize areas like culture of safety, suicide risk reduction, workplace and patient safety, and staffing adequacy.
New Reporting Tools (SAFER & SAFEST)
JC now pairs its SAFER (Survey Analysis for Evaluating Risk) matrix with a new SAFEST program to highlight strengths and leading practices — a significant cultural shift toward transparency and shared learning.
Nurse Staffing as a Performance Goal
Nurse staffing and workforce effectiveness are elevated as a core accreditation focus, reflecting broader regulatory emphasis on workforce readiness and governance involvement.
Standards Accessibility & Education
JC standards are now publicly searchable, and a robust schedule of webinars and on-demand education is available to help organizations understand and operationalize the new requirements.
DNV
DNV’s Healthcare University (in-person course series)
- Nashville, TN — April 21–23, 2026
- Denver, CO — July 21–23, 2026
- These multi-day, expert-led courses cover DNV accreditation fundamentals, patient safety, risk management, ISO 9001 concepts, internal auditing, sterile processing, infection prevention, and more.
Standards Revision 26-0
DNV updated its hospital accreditation standards in early 2026 with a broader scope that now includes outpatient sites, satellite facilities, and telemedicine. Major areas of revision include physical environment requirements, cyber-security expectations (e.g., secure network and physical access systems), and alignment with international quality standards
CIHQ
Educational & Summit Activities Continue
CIHQ remains active with its Accreditation & Regulatory Summits and courses (HACP, PE, IC), which include continuing education opportunities and compliance guidance tailored to current CMS and accreditation expectations.
CARF
2026 Standards Updates & New Specialty Programs:
CARF has published its 2026 standards manuals with important additions, including Integrated Primary Care Specialty Program standards effective July 1, 2026. These frameworks support interdisciplinary and holistic care integration across behavioral health, physical health, and social needs.
Sobering Centers Accreditation Standards:
New CARF standards for sobering centers (part of crisis services) will be surveyed starting mid-2026, formalizing quality expectations for these increasingly vital components of the crisis continuum.
Leadership & Governance News:
CARF’s Board has new leadership appointments and continues to grow its research and standards development capacity, signaling ongoing evolution in CARF’s strategic direction.
COA
2025/2026 Standards Evolution:
COA’s ongoing annual standards update process has emphasized clarity of practice expectations, workforce development, and updated services sections. While the primary published update cycle for behavioral health isn’t yet labeled “2026,” several COA standards revisions initiated in 2025 remain current and in practice.
What to watch for in 2026:
Organizations should monitor the MyCOA portal and COA’s feedback processes for behavioral health and human service programs.
- COA (within Social Current) hosts a recurring “Introduction to COA Accreditation” webinar throughout 2026 — typically monthly on Wednesdays (e.g., Apr 1, Jun 3, Aug 5, Oct 7, Dec 2, 2026). These are ~30-minute sessions covering accreditation basics.
Accreditation Trainings:
- Intensive Accreditation Training (IAT)
- Performance & Quality Improvement (PQI) sessions
- Dates include Feb 9, Apr 6, Oct 5, and Dec 1, 2026
NBHAP
The National Behavioral Health Association for Providers (NBHAP) EmPATH Summit 2026 is being held on May 12–13, 2026. This national conference is focused on transforming psychiatric emergency care using the EmPATH model.
Dive deeper on EmPATH Units with our related article:
➡️ EmPATH Units: Redefining Emergency Psychiatric Care
Before reviewing dashboards, ask: “If someone in this organization sees risk emerging, do they feel safe bringing it forward.”
Barrins & Associates provides regulatory and accreditation consulting services for the Behavioral Healthcare industry, including psychiatric hospitals and freestanding BH organizations. We specialize in providing survey preparation and continuous survey readiness services to help you provide safe and compliant care.
Founded in 1999 by Anne Barrins, former Joint Commission (JC) surveyor and succeeded by Julia Finken, former JC surveyor, Associate Director of Business Development for the Home Care Program, and Executive Director of Business Development for the Behavioral Health Care and Psychiatric Hospital Programs and Yvonne Rockwood, former Regional Associate Director for the Eastern Business Development Division at the JC for Community Behavioral Health Care Services.
Why Choose Us?
“Barrins & Associates conducted an outstanding mock survey for us. They were extremely thorough in their review and identified numerous areas which our team began addressing immediately. We were better prepared for our Joint Commission survey but, moreover, we were armed with new knowledge to help us ensure improved patient care and safety.”
Hospital CEO
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Are You Survey Ready?
We can assist you to achieve and sustain accreditation and regulatory compliance in adherence to the JC, DNV, CHIQ, ACHC, CARF, COA, QUAD-A, and CMS, standards for psychiatric hospitals and community behavioral health and human services providers. Inquire today about our consulting services. We continue to support your journey toward accreditation and regulatory compliance.
Inquire today about our consulting services.
We continue to support your journey toward accreditation and regulatory compliance.