TJC & CMS Physical Environment (PE) Update

The Joint Commission is retiring the EC and LS Chapters and replacing them with a new PE Chapter (Physical Environment).

During the 2024 Joint Commission Executive Briefings, it was announced that the Joint Commission is replacing the Environment of Care (EC) and Life Safety (LS) Chapters with a new Physical Environment (PE) Standard, planned to be effective in 2025.

This change was presented by the Director of Physical Environment Department Herman McKenzie, MBA, CHSP who also stated that all the Elements of Performance (EP) in the new chapter will be in alignment with the CMS Conditions of Participation (CoP), which have incorporated the NFPA codes referenced in NFPA 101-2012, chapter 2.  The goal is approximately 3 EP’s for each CoP, although there will be some exceptions.  Also, some legacy Standards that are not required by CMS will be removed.