Dean Ford Joins Elite Group to Govern Joint Commission
The Miller School dean and chief academic officer was appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
The Joint Commission has appointed University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Dean and Chief Academic Officer Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., to its Board of Commissioners.
The board’s 21 voting members provide policy leadership and oversight for the Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies more than 23,000 health care organizations and programs in the U.S. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
Board members include accomplished physicians, administrators, nurses, employers, quality and innovation experts and educators. Representatives from the Joint Commission’s Corporate Members, including the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Surgeons and others, comprise the governing body.
“I am deeply honored to join the Board of Commissioners of the Joint Commission, an organization synonymous with advancing excellence in patient care,” said Dean Ford, who is the immediate past president of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
The ACS nominated Dean Ford to serve as one of its representatives on the Joint Commission board. His three-year term begins January 1, 2025.
Dean Ford noted that UHealth – University of Miami Health System prides itself on having earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in 2022, which reflects the health system’s commitment to using best practices to improve safety and quality for their patients, staff and community.
The Joint Commission’s hospital accreditation standards number more than 250 and address up-to-date quality measures. The guidelines address patient rights and education, infection control, medication management and preventing medical errors. They look at how hospitals verify that their doctors, nurses and other staff are qualified and competent, how they prepare for emergencies and how they collect and use performance data to improve patient outcomes.
Dean Ford and the other board members will work with the Joint Commission and Joint Commission International President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan B. Perlin, M.D., Ph.D., to make strides in strategic priority areas, including health equity, environmental sustainability and workforce safety and well-being.
“In today’s complex health care landscape, accountability and objective evaluation are more crucial than ever,” Dean Ford said. “I am honored to contribute to this vital mission, and I look forward to collaborating with this esteemed group to lead meaningful change.”