Phoenix Health CompassAdvocacy Center
All complaint pathways
The Joint Commission complaints
A safety concern at an accredited hospital, lab, or care organization that internal channels did not resolve.
Best for
- • Patient safety events
- • Systemic unsafe practice
- • Accreditation standards
Step by step
Follow these in order — skipping a step is the most common reason a complaint stalls.
- 1Confirm the organization is Joint Commission accredited using Quality Check.
- 2Submit the concern through the online Report a Patient Safety Concern form.
- 3Describe the safety issue and the system failure — not only the individual involved.
- 4Note that The Joint Commission does not resolve individual billing or compensation disputes.
What to expect
Acknowledgement is typically quick; review and any on-site follow-up can take several months.
Avoid these mistakes
- File internally first when it is safe to do so — accreditors ask whether you did.
- You may file anonymously, though this limits follow-up.
If nothing happens
CMS regional office → state health department survey agency.
Ask Phoenix about this
Educational purposes only
Phoenix Health Compass does not provide legal advice or medical advice. This content summarizes publicly available government and nonprofit resources and is cited throughout. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the official agency.
Last reviewed by the Phoenix Health Compass editorial team.