Final answer:
The Joint Commission is the organization that sets rigorous standards for hospitals and healthcare institutions to ensure high quality and safe patient care.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organization responsible for setting high standards of care for hospitals and healthcare institutions is The Joint Commission. It operates as an independent, non-profit organization that reviews and accredits healthcare organizations in the United States. Its primary role is to ensure that hospital and healthcare providers meet certain performance standards, striving to improve healthcare quality and patient safety. By doing so, it also indirectly promotes new practices and ideas in healthcare. The Joint Commission evaluates various aspects of healthcare institutions, from patient care to the institution's administrative functions, and its accreditation is often a mark of quality that can influence public perception, insurance considerations, and more.
Professional societies, such as the American Hospital Association and trade associations like Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, often attempt to influence public policy in ways that benefit their members. But it's The Joint Commission that's specifically focused on continuous improvement in healthcare institutions by setting the standards of care. They play a crucial role in the healthcare industry, complementing the work of nonprofits and trade associations by offering a benchmark for quality and safety.