Joint Commission modifies Environment of Care survey process

Editor's Note

The Joint Commission announced November 11 that it has modified its Environment of Care (EC) survey process for ambulatory surgery centers (those deemed and/or assigned life safety code surveyors), critical access hospitals, and hospitals, effective January 1, 2021.

The change eliminates the 1-hour, sit-down discussion with members of the safety or EC committee. That content will now be integrated into the document review and building tours conducted by Life Safety Code surveyors. EC topics also will be incorporated into individual tracer activities by clinical surveyors.

The annual Survey Activity Guide will provide the Life Safety and EC document list and review tool, which includes EC standards and the organizational survey agenda, according to the Joint Commission.