Introduction and Background
The Joint Commission Quality Initiative
In 1987, The Joint Commission announced its
Agenda for Change
, which outlined a series of major
steps designed to modernize the accreditation process. A key component of the
Agenda for Change
was the eventual introduction of standardized core performance measures into the accreditation
process. As the vision to integrate performance measurement into accreditation became more focused,
the name ORYX® was chosen for the entire initiative. ORYX® is The Joint Commission's performance
measurement and improvement initiative, which integrates outcomes and other performance measure
data into the accreditation process.
The ORYX® initiative became operational in March of 1999, when performance measurement systems
began transmitting data to The Joint Commission on behalf of accredited hospitals. ORYX® measure-
ment requirements are intended to support Joint Commission accredited organizations in their quality
improvement efforts.
The initial phase of the ORYX® initiative provided healthcare organizations a great degree of exibility
in terms of the measures that could be reported. Over time, the ORYX® measures have evolved into
standardized valid, reliable, and evidence-based quality measures
Related Joint Commission Activities
Accreditation Process
In January 2000, Joint Commission surveyors began using organization-specic ORYX®
Pre-Survey
Reports
, effectively commencing the use of performance measure data in the survey process.
In 2004, the survey process was substantially modied to be more data-driven and patient-centered
thus enhancing its value, relevance, and credibility. Many of the key components of the survey process
utilize data derived from the national hospital inpatient quality measures. The survey process now has
a greater focus on evaluating actual care processes because patients are traced through the care, treat-
ment and/or services they receive. In addition, surveyors conduct “systems tracers” to analyze key op-
erational systems that directly impact the quality and safety of patient care.
In June 2010 The Joint Commission categorized its process core performance measures into account-
ability and non-accountability measures. This approach placed more emphasis on an organization's