the joint commission's predecessor organization grew from the efforts of ernest codman to promote hospital reform based on outcomes management in patient care. codman's efforts led to the founding of the american college of surgeons hospital standardization program. in 1951 the joint commission on accreditation of hospitals was created by merging the hospital standardization program with similar programs run by the american college of physicians, the american hospital association, the american medical association, and the canadian medical association. in 1987 the company was renamed the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations (jcaho, pronounced "jay-co"). in 2007 the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations underwent a major rebranding and simplified its name to the joint commission. the rebranding included the name, logo, and tag line change to "helping health care organizations help patients."