What the Joint Commission’s 2026 Changes Mean for the Environment of Care — and Why It Matters More Than Ever

The Joint Commission is streamlining its standards — and the implications are bigger than just fewer checkboxes.

Starting January 1, 2026, both hospital and critical access hospital accreditation programs will see significant changes. In its effort to reduce regulatory burden, The Joint Commission is eliminating hundreds of Elements of Performance (EPs) and consolidating requirements into broader, code-based modules that align more directly with existing regulations like NFPA 99 and CMS Conditions of Participation.

While this may sound like a behind-the-scenes policy update, it’s a major shift that will affect how organizations approach compliance, training, and operations — especially when it comes to the environment of care.

What’s Changing?

Here’s a breakdown of the updates relevant to Environmental Services (EVS), Infection Prevention (IP), and Facilities teams:

1. Environment of Care → Physical Environment

The familiar Environment of Care (EC) chapter is being replaced by a new Physical Environment module. Instead of listing dozens of individual EPs, the new module references broad compliance with codes such as NFPA 99, which covers everything from ventilation and alarms to utility systems and risk assessment.

Implication: Facilities must now demonstrate compliance with entire codes, not just specific line items. This requires a deeper operational understanding — and documentation — from all departments involved.

2. A Shift from Prescriptive to Performance-Based

Previously, many standards were task-focused: “Check this weekly,” “Label that,” “Store this here.” Those are going away. Instead, teams will be expected to show that they are meeting the intent and outcomes of those standards based on risk assessments, best practices, and recognized codes.

Implication: Organizations will need to build internal capacity to interpret and apply codes. Survey readiness will depend more on policy quality, staff understanding, and documented processes — not just whether a box is checked.

3. Interdisciplinary Collaboration Becomes Essential

With fewer explicit directives, success will hinge on cross-functional communication. Infection Prevention, EVS, Facilities, Safety, and Clinical teams will need to coordinate more closely to assess risk, implement safeguards, and document compliance in a way that holds up to survey scrutiny.

Implication: Siloed operations will struggle. The new framework rewards collaboration, shared accountability, and proactive risk management.

What This Means for the Environment of Care

The “environment of care” is more than a compliance category — it’s the foundation of patient safety. And under the new standards, maintaining it becomes both more flexible and more complex.

Here’s what organizations should focus on now:

Focus Area

Updated Approach

Documentation

Shift from task logs to code-based risk assessments and system performance data

Training

Go beyond “how” to include “why” — staff must understand codes, risks, and safe practice rationale

Audits & Rounds

Expect more detailed inspection of fire safety systems, chemical storage, ventilation, and utility systems

EVS & Facilities

Must collaborate to document and demonstrate safety practices aligned with NFPA standards

Leadership

Needs to support a culture of compliance by investing in training, policies, and interdepartmental communication

Why This Matters to You — Even If You’re Not in Facilities

If you’re a nurse, infection preventionist, administrator, or healthcare executive — this still matters to you. Because a failure in the physical environment doesn’t just mean a missed survey item. It can mean:

• Delays in patient care

• Increased infection risk

• Unsafe working conditions

• Fines, citations, or loss of accreditation

The environment of care is the silent partner in every patient outcome. And under these new standards, ensuring it’s maintained properly is everyone’s responsibility.

Final Thoughts

This change isn’t about doing less — it’s about doing smarter. The new standards put greater trust in healthcare leaders and support services to manage their environments based on risk, not rigid checklists.

That’s a good thing — but only if we’re ready for it.

Let’s make sure our EVS, Facilities, and IP teams are equipped, empowered, and included. Because when it comes to the environment of care…

🛡️ Compliance is shared. Safety is shared. And so is success.