The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has enhanced its Infection Control Standards to include new requirements that are effective January 1, 2005. The revised standards reflect increased recognition that healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a national concern. The revised standards serve to raise awareness that these infections can be acquired in any healthcare setting and increase what is expected of hospital leadership and of infection control programs.

The goal of an effective Infection Control Program is to reduce the risk of acquisition and transmission of HAIs. The new JCAHO standards still require that hospitals have organization-wide infection control programs but they now state that hospitals should assign responsibility for managing these programs to individuals formally qualified in infection control and epidemiology. According to JCAHO Standard IC.7.10: "Qualifications [for the individual(s) responsible for managing the Infection Control Program] may be met through …certification [such as that offered by the Certification Board for Infection Control (CBIC)] in prevention and control of infections."

JCAHO endorsement of certification through CBIC serves as an incentive for infection control professionals (ICPs) to become and maintain certification. Endorsement of CBIC certification by JCAHO also provides the impetus for healthcare institutions to require certification for individuals responsible for managing their Infection Control Programs.

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