Background on the Standards Review Process

Per CAHME Policies and Procedures, the Standards Council initiates a full review of the criteria once every five years, reaffirming or changing them as appropriate or necessary. The primary goal of such a review is to ensure that the criteria for accreditation are consistently current, relevant, and effective to achieve the overall goals of CAHME.

Creation of the 2026 Draft Accreditation Standards

CAHME began the standards update process in the beginning of Fiscal Year 2024. Workgroups were established to review the standards in detail, incorporating input from multiple stakeholder groups including all CAHME councils and committees (with representation from Population Health Management, Healthcare Quality and Safety, and Global), site visitors, peer accreditors, and others. The Standards Council reviewed each draft of the 2026 Accreditation Standards on a quarterly basis.

After this rigorous review:

• The draft standards were reviewed and endorsed by both the Standards Council and the Accreditation Council.
• At the May 2025 Board Meeting, the CAHME Board of Directors approved the final draft of the 2026 Accreditation Standards to be brought to the field for public comment.

What’s Next? 

All submitted comments will be reviewed by the Standards Council. If significant changes are recommended, those will be incorporated into a revised version of the standards. The revised standards will then be presented to the Board of Directors for final approval. We value your feedback and thank you for contributing to the advancement of healthcare management education.

Commentary on the standards can be made through the below form.

Commentary Form

Timelines

Crosswalk