Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Advancing Accreditation and Patient Safety: Inside Joint Commission’s Transformative Accreditation 360
Nov 12, 2025
Dr. Ken Grubbs, Executive VP and Chief Nursing Officer at The Joint Commission, shares his insights on transforming healthcare quality. He introduces Accreditation 360, a new, data-driven approach focused on improving patient outcomes. Grubbs discusses how the initiative reduces administrative burdens while maintaining rigorous standards, cutting requirements from 1500 to 700 for clarity. He highlights future national performance goals and the SAFESt program, emphasizing a collaborative approach to elevate patient safety and care.
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From Bedside Nurse To Accreditation Leader
- Dr. Ken Grubbs started as a bedside nurse in a critical access hospital and later led regulatory and accreditation functions in a large health system.
- He also worked at the National Patient Safety Foundation before joining Joint Commission leadership.
Accreditation As A Data-Forward Patient Focus
- Accreditation 360 reframes accreditation as a forward-looking, data-focused model centered on patient outcomes.
- It reduces redundancy and clarifies requirements to lower administrative burden while preserving rigor.
Use Findings Paired With Solutions
- When Accreditation 360 identifies opportunities, Joint Commission will pair findings with potential solutions and supporting data.
- Use those solution-focused resources to drive performance improvement rather than treating findings as only compliance items.