The 8th edition took effect on 1 January 2025. The Accreditation Participation Requirements are now scored, two chapters are new, Health Care Technology and Global Health Impact, and patient falls moved from the patient safety goals into Assessment of Patients.
The edition in force
JCI lists the hospital standards as the 8th edition, effective 1 January 2025.1 The same manual covers academic medical center hospitals, with two academic chapters, Human Subjects Research Programs and Medical Professional Education.2
| Change | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Accreditation Participation Requirements are scored | Accurate, timely information to JCI can now produce a finding |
| Health Care Technology (HCT), a new chapter | The technology you choose, run and maintain sits inside the standards |
| Global Health Impact (GHI), a new chapter | Your wider impact, including sustainability, is assessed |
| Falls moved to Assessment of Patients | Five patient safety goals remain, and falls are assessed with the patient |
- Map old chapters to new. List each 7th edition owner against the 8th edition chapter that now holds their work.
- Name owners for HCT and GHI. Technology and global health impact need leaders of their own.
- Treat APR as evidence. Keep a record of what you report to JCI and where each figure came from.
- Move falls into assessment. Falls risk belongs in the assessment workflow and its documentation.
- Re-run the gap analysis. Score every measurable element again, against the new manual.
- 8th edition chapter ______ Previous home ______
- Owner ______
- New elements ______
- Evidence that now needs collecting ______
- Closed by ______
Questions
When did the 8th edition take effect?
1 January 2025.
Does the 8th edition apply to ambulatory centres?
No, ambulatory care has its own manual, in its 4th edition, effective 1 July 2019.
Is Accreditation 360 part of JCI?
No, Accreditation 360 is the US Joint Commission's model for US hospitals, effective 1 January 2026. JCI's hospital standards are the 8th edition.
Sources
- 1Joint Commission International, 2026Standards manuals, editions and effective datesRead source
- 2Joint Commission International, 2024JCI Accreditation Standards for Hospitals, 8th editionRead source
- 3Joint Commission International, 2024Accreditation Standards for Hospitals, 8th edition, effective 1 January 2025, standards onlyRead source
Written by the wai team from Joint Commission International guidance, checked on 15 October 2026. This is guidance, not legal advice. JCI does not endorse wai or any software.