Managers in hospitals have a new resource in their efforts to ensure regulatory compliance. Joint Commission Resources has released a CD titled Environment of Care Crosswalk: A Comparison of The Joint Commission 2009 Environment of Care, Emergency Management, and Life Safety Standards with OSHA, NFPA, EPA and Other Regulations.

The CD helps hospitals simplify their compliance activities and recognize when a duplication of requirements exists between the 2009 Joint Commission Environment of Care, Emergency Management, and Life Safety standards, and the regulations of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The CD features links to OSHA and EPA regulations, as well as the National Fire Protection Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Department of Energy. This new edition of the CD also reflects changes to the standards and elements of performance as a result of The Joint Commission's Standards Improvement Initiative.

The CD enables easier electronic access to standards and requirements and managers can use it as a compliance-tracking tool. It includes the full text of the Environment of Care, Emergency Management and Life Safety standards and the associated elements of performance. An accompanying 30-page guidebook offers tips and instructions for using the CD.

Joint Commission Resources is a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission.