Skip to main content Environment of Care | Joint Commission Resources

The JCR Advantage

Our practice is made up of environment of care and life safety code experts with over 320 combined years of hands-on health care experience in a variety of settings across the continuum of care. Our team has worked or currently works as mechanical and electrical engineers, safety officers, architects, facility directors, nurses, and infection prevention and control specialists. With experts on both the environment and clinical side, we have the ideal team to identify the linkages between the environment of care and clinical settings to help reduce risk.

A Robust Set of Environment of Care & Life Safety Solutions

Our services go beyond Joint Commission survey preparation. We can help you strengthen your environment of care and life safety programs in the following areas:


  • Evaluate the built environment before, during, and after construction.
  • Evaluate conceptual drawings for compliance with Joint Commission standards and CMS Conditions of Participation.
  • Field verify compliance with NFPA 101-2012 after occupancy is granted.
  • Help guide safe building design and new construction to help you achieve compliance with the life safety code, general infrastructure requirements, infection prevention, and workflow.
  • Assist with your pre-construction, infection prevention risk assessments, and interim life safety measures assessments.
Learn more

Custom education is available virtually or in-person. Popular topics can include, but are not limited to:

  • Waterborne pathogens
  • Ventilators/air quality
  • Pharmacy compounding
  • Kitchens
  • Developing a successful Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) 
Learn moreLearn more about custom education

  • Establish a long-term program with a JCR expert who will make regular visits to help as you manage continuous compliance and assist as you address issues as they arise.
Learn moreLearn more about compliance sustainability

  • Help you to develop a method to document and monitor modifications to your organization’s standard operating procedures or building code made during the activation of your EOP.
  • Analyze your emergency response to an event or exercise and help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Facilitate an after-action report and provide recommendations for changes.
  • Develop EOP exercise scenarios, moderating the exercise, or through facilitated workshops.
Learn moreLearn more about emergency management

  • Understand the Environment of Care, Life Safety, and Emergency Management standards manual chapters.
  • Conduct building tours based on The Joint Commission’s Surveyor Activity Guide for Environment of Care, Emergency Management, and Life Safety chapters.
  • Assist you with completing the evidence of standards compliance and assist as you create and implement action plans after a Joint Commission survey.
  • Assist with helping a new facility director/manager understand the environment of care program so they can take ownership and accountability.

  • Conduct a Life Safety Assessment to identify gaps with the organization’s compliance to NFPA 101-2012 and NFPA 99-2012.
  • Perform a risk assessment based on NFPA99 Chapter 4.
  • Evaluate compliance with NFPA 101-2012; Chapter 43 during renovation, repurposing of space, or occupancy changes.
  • Evaluate pharmacy compounding areas to meet USP <795>, <797>, and <800>.
  • Conduct a CMS and Joint Commission standards comparison assessment.
  • Help you address the FGI Guidelines.

Related Resource: EC Made Easy

A comprehensive introduction to the health care physical environment.

*The use of Joint Commission Resources consultative technical or advisory services is not necessary to obtain a Joint Commission Accreditation award, nor does it influence the granting of such awards.