Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

Unannounced Survey Process

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations can conduct an accreditation survey of St. Vincent Hospital at any time. The purpose of the survey is to evaluate the organization's compliance with nationally established Joint Commission Standards. The survey results will be used to determine whether, and the conditions under which, accreditation should be awarded the organization.

Joint Commission standards deal with organizational quality of care issues and the safety of the environment in which care is provided. Anyone believing that he or she has pertinent and valid information about such matters may request a public information interview with the Joint Commission's field representatives at the time of the survey. Information presented at the interview will be carefully evaluated for relevance to the accreditation process. Requests for public information interviews must be made in writing and should be sent to the Joint Commission no later than five working days before the survey begins. The request must also indicate the nature of the information to be provided at the interview. Such requests should be addressed to:

Division of Accreditation Operations
Organization Liaison
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

Or Faxed to 630/792-5636

Or E-mailed to complaint@jcaho.org

Or Call 1-800-994-6610

The Joint Commission Office of Quality Monitoring will acknowledge in writing or by telephone requests received 10 days before the survey begins. An Account Representative will contact the individual requesting the public information interview prior to the survey, indicating the location, date, and time of the interview and the name of the surveyor who will be conducting the interview.