Joint Commission issues antimicrobial stewardship requirements for ambulatory health care. The new requirements, effective January 1, 2020, aim to improve patient safety by decreasing the misuse of antibiotics, which contributes to antimicrobial resistance. To prevent inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, the Joint Commission has developed five elements of performance (EPs) for the ambulatory setting. One of these discusses establishing an annual antimicrobial stewardship goal; for example, decreasing antibiotic use for viral infections. The EPs require facilities to implement evidence-based practice guidelines, such as protocols for procedures to ensure that only those who need antibiotics receive them. To read more about the new EPs and their rationales, go to http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/R3_23_Antimicrobial_Stewardship_AMB_6.