Physical Environment Solutions
Contact our teamA safe physical environment is fundamental to safe patient care, but maintaining it requires far more than preparing for the next survey.
Chartis brings life safety code compliance, environment of care, and emergency preparedness together to create safer facilities, better-prepared teams, and fewer preventable risks.
The growing complexity of physical environment compliance
The physical environment touches nearly every aspect of care and remains a persistent source of survey deficiencies. In CMS validation surveys, Physical Environment was the most frequently cited Medicare condition-level deficiency. More recent ACHC data show individual physical environment standards cited in as many as 67% of hospital surveys. As requirements span life safety, utilities, emergency preparedness, and other areas, disconnected compliance processes can leave organizations exposed.
Keep your physical environment safe
Chartis helps health systems combine life safety code compliance, environment of care, and emergency preparedness into one practical approach so leaders can see the gaps, fix what matters most, and stand up to survey scrutiny. We work within our clients’ unique situations to reduce avoidable risk, protect patients and staff, and keep operations moving when pressure rises.
- Life safety code compliance: We help ensure buildings are compliant by reviewing and correcting existing Life Safety Code drawings, creating accurate and comprehensive CAD drawings when needed, and running on-site assessments, above-ceiling inspections, mock surveys, equivalencies, and pre-construction plan reviews so teams can resolve issues before survey day.
- Environment of care: We evaluate the safety and functionality of the physical environment across ligature risks, security, workplace violence, building and equipment inspection, housekeeping, utilities, water management, hazardous materials, and interim life safety measures so the environment is safer and easier to manage.
- Emergency preparedness: We benchmark readiness against CMS, accreditation, and local requirements, then work through leadership oversight, hazard vulnerability analysis, incident command, succession planning, communication, surge planning, alternate care sites, continuity of operations, training, rehearsals, and improvement plans so response is coordinated under pressure.
The strongest organizations treat the physical environment as a strategic asset that supports patient safety, operational resilience, and long-term performance. ”
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common physical environment survey deficiencies?
Physical environment issues remain a significant source of Joint Commission survey findings, with recurring deficiencies involving utility systems, fire and life safety, equipment maintenance, and the safety and functionality of the care environment.
How often should emergency preparedness plans be reviewed?
CMS guidance says emergency preparedness plans should be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years, or annually for long-term care. Chartis helps teams translate that requirement into leadership oversight, hazard vulnerability analysis, incident command, and rehearsed response workflows.
How can health systems manage physical environment risk consistently across multiple facilities?
Health systems need a standard approach to identifying, prioritizing, and addressing physical environment risk across the enterprise. Consistent Environment of Care and Life Safety Code practices can give leaders greater visibility into vulnerabilities while revealing where variation between facilities creates unnecessary exposure.
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