Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.

More than ever, American adults are playing an active role in choosing their health care providers, and a provider's accreditation status is integral to that choice, according to a July report from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

In speaking with 1,000 adults ages 18 and older, a private telephone-survey company hired by JCAHO learned that 55 percent of respondents had researched one or more health care organizations before selecting a provider.

“Moreover, 80 percent [of respondents] indicated they would feel more comfortable or confident about [health care] services if they knew the provider was accredited,” the report said.

Additionally, one in three respondents claimed to be familiar with the accreditation process, and 3 percent of respondents named JCAHO without receiving prompting from the interviewer. With prompting, 18 percent of respondents claimed to be aware of JCAHO.

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