Final answer:
The Joint Commission is the organization responsible for accrediting and certifying healthcare organizations in the U.S. to ensure they meet quality and safety standards. Other agencies, like the AHRQ, focus on healthcare research and supporting improvements in care quality and accessibility. Hence, option d is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organization responsible for accrediting and certifying healthcare organizations in the United States, ensuring they meet specific quality and safety standards, is The Joint Commission. This organization evaluates and accredits thousands of healthcare organizations and programs in the country, working closely with experts and providers to develop standards designed to improve the quality and safety of patient care.
Other organizations mentioned, such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), play a role in healthcare quality and research, but the accreditation and certification scope is primarily the domain of The Joint Commission. The AHRQ, for instance, conducts research and provides evidence to make healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, supporting the Department of Health and Human Services in its efforts to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of care across the healthcare system.