Standards for the evaluation of hospital infection control policies and procedures.

care institutions in Japan began in 1985. That year, a joint committee was established between the Japan Medical Association and the Ministry of Health and Welfare to develop a self-evaluation manual for quality of healthcare institutions by 1989. Although convenient, self-evaluation of the quality of medical care lacks objectiveness and, therefore, the need for thirdparty evaluation was pointed out. In response, the Japan Society for Quality in Health Care(JSQua)was established in 1990 as a non-profit organization through the coordination of academic researchers and hospital administrators in order to implement third-party evaluation of healthcare institutions in Japan . JSQua developed a manual of standards for evaluation of hospitals and implemented third-party evaluation by surveyors. The first version of this standards manual was developed in 1991 and revisions were made periodically. The latest version of this manual is version 5.5, developed in 1997. The Japanese Council for Quality Health Care(JCQHC), which is an independent organization, was established in 1995 to execute third-party evaluation of healthcare institutions . After a pilot study was completed , JCQHC began a regular nation-wide survey. After the start of regular surveys by JCQHC , JSQua decided to begin a new evaluation project focusing on special functions within hospitals. At first, the Society selected“evaluation of the quality of hospital infection control policies and procedures”as their focus.