Joint Commission releases prepublication standards for EC chapter

February 14, 2026

Accreditation & Quality Compliance Advisor

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The Joint Commission has released prepublication standards for its Environment of Care (EC) chapter to align with changes to CMS requirements.

The prepublication standards are effective July 1. They are a response to a December 2013 clarification by the CMS in a Survey and Certification letter that discussed when a hospital can adjust its maintenance, inspection, and testing activities for facility and medical equipment from manufacturer recommendations. The Joint Commission added two new elements of performance (EP) for hospitals and critical access hospitals: EP24 for EC.02.04.03 and EP6 for EC.02.05.05.

Accrediting organizations suspend most survey activities to focus on COVID-19

March 18, 2020

Accreditation & Survey Preparation, Infection Control

If you are expecting a survey from your accreditation organization (AO) in the upcoming weeks and months, check in with your liaison. Some AOs are suspending most or all survey activities as COVID-19 ...

Inside Accreditation & Quality

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Verma raps accrediting organizations’ ‘glaring conflict of interest’

February 14, 2026

Accreditation & Survey Preparation

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma took a swipe at accrediting organizations, noting that when they accept consulting fees from the hospitals they grade it creates ...

Patient Safety Monitor Journal

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The Joint Commission seeks to reduce maternal deaths

March 24, 2020

Patient Safety, Policies and Procedures, Accreditation & Survey Preparation

The Joint Commission (TJC) has issued guidance and an alert to hospitals to help prevent what it calls a shocking number of women who die from typically preventable pregnancy complications. The acc...

Inside Accreditation & Quality

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You be the surveyor, April 2020

March 24, 2020

Accreditation & Survey Preparation

What deficiencies would you cite and why? And how would you correct them? You be the surveyor. The following information was taken from a CMS Form-2567 “Statement of Deficiencies” posted online ...

Patient Safety Monitor Journal

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Issue

Coronavirus and preparing for the worst

February 14, 2026

Accreditation & Survey Preparation, Natural & Manmade Disasters, Infection Control

Preparing for a worldwide pandemic, especially when you don’t know how fast it will spread or how serious its consequences will be, is one of the hardest things that healthcare workers do. ...