there has been criticism in the past within the u.s. about how the joint commission operates. the commission's practice had been to notify hospitals in advance of the timing of inspections. a 2005 article in the "washington post" noted that about 99% of inspected hospitals are accredited, and serious problems in the delivery of care are sometimes overlooked or missed. similar concerns have been expressed by the "boston globe" who stated "the joint commission, whose governing board has long been dominated by representatives of the industries it inspects, has been the target of criticism about the validity of its evaluations." the joint commission over time has responded to these criticisms. however, when it comes to the international dimension, surveys undertaken by jci still take place at a time known in advance by the hospitals being surveyed, often after considerable preparation by those hospitals.