The standards, regulatory bodies, and professional organizations our team references on every engagement, collected in one place for clients and colleagues.
These are the sources we work from: the accreditation standards, federal regulations, and professional guidelines that govern the work we do for clients every day.
We pulled the 25 most-cited findings from 2025 Joint Commission surveys and mapped each former Environment of Care and Life Safety citation to its new Physical Environment code. Download the full deck or explore the breakdown.
Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 22,000 healthcare organizations in the United States. JC standards form the basis for environment of care, infection control, and clinical compliance programs nationwide.
DNV is a CMS-approved accreditation organization offering hospital accreditation under the NIAHO® standards. DNV integrates ISO 9001 quality management with Medicare Conditions of Participation.
The CMS Conditions of Participation (CoPs) are the federal requirements hospitals must meet to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. CoPs cover governance, patient rights, infection control, and physical environment.
The JC EC standards address safety and security, hazardous materials, emergency management, fire safety, medical equipment, and utility systems, foundational for healthcare facility compliance.
ASHE provides compliance resources, tools, and education for healthcare facility managers, including Environment of Care gap analysis tools, NFPA compliance guides, and ICRA implementation support.
JC and DNV hold “deemed status” from CMS, meaning their accreditation surveys satisfy Medicare certification requirements. Understanding the deemed status relationship is critical for compliance planning.
ASHE is the leading professional organization for healthcare facility engineers and managers, the home of ICRA 2.0, NFPA life safety compliance tools, and healthcare construction standards.
The full ICRA 2.0 toolkit including the Matrix of Precautions for Construction, Renovation and Operations, ICRA Permit templates, and the ICRA Process Guide. Core tools are available free to all users.
FGI publishes the guidelines for design and construction of healthcare facilities, the foundational document for infection control planning in new builds and renovation projects.
The definitive standard for HVAC design in healthcare settings, covering pressure relationships, filtration, air changes, and special environment requirements. 2025 edition now available.
NFPA 99 establishes requirements for the installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and performance of healthcare facility systems including medical gas, electrical, and HVAC, directly referenced in DNV surveys.
NFPA 101 governs construction, protection, and occupancy features required to minimize danger to life from fire, smoke, and panic in hospitals and healthcare occupancies. Required under both JC and CMS.
The leading professional organization for infection preventionists. APIC publishes practice guidelines, the American Journal of Infection Control, and provides resources for IPC program development and CIC certification.
HICPAC advises CDC on guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Their guidelines form the scientific basis for JC infection control standards and CMS Conditions of Participation.
The CDC’s detailed evidence-based guidelines for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of patient care equipment and the healthcare environment. Essential reference for sterile processing and IPC.
SHEA publishes evidence-based practice recommendations on HAI prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and epidemiology in healthcare settings, often co-authored with APIC and IDSA.
AAMI’s ST79 is the primary reference for sterilization of reusable medical devices in healthcare settings, the governing standard for sterile processing departments and dental instrument reprocessing.
IDSA publishes clinical practice guidelines on infectious disease treatment and prevention, frequently referenced alongside SHEA and APIC in healthcare infection control programs.
The leading professional organization for industrial hygienists. AIHA publishes occupational exposure guidelines, laboratory accreditation standards, and professional development resources for CIH certification.
ABIH certifies Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH), the professional credential held by Oncore’s leadership. The CIH designation represents the highest standard of expertise in industrial hygiene practice.
OSHA’s healthcare-specific guidance covering bloodborne pathogens, respiratory protection, hazard communication, and workplace safety standards for hospital and clinical environments.
NIOSH conducts research and issues recommendations for preventing work-related illness and injury, including recommended exposure limits (RELs), PPE guidance, and the Health Hazard Evaluation Program.
ACGIH publishes Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs), the most widely referenced occupational exposure guidelines used in industrial hygiene practice and regulatory compliance.
EPA guidance on indoor air quality, mold, environmental hazards, and building assessment, key references for Oncore’s IAQ and environmental health consulting services.
NFPA publishes NFPA 99 (Health Care Facilities Code), NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), and dozens of other codes directly cited in JC, DNV, and CMS compliance requirements. Critical for Environment of Care compliance and DNV Physical Environment surveys.
ASHRAE develops HVAC and ventilation standards including Standard 170 for healthcare facilities and Standard 62.1 for ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality, directly governing air handling in clinical and surgical environments.
AAMI develops consensus standards for medical devices and sterilization, including ANSI/AAMI ST79 (sterilization), ST108 (water quality for reprocessing), and TIR34. Essential for sterile processing departments and perioperative compliance.
FGI publishes the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals, Outpatient Facilities, and Residential Health Care Facilities, the foundational reference for healthcare facility planning, renovation, and ICRA implementation.
CDC provides public health guidance, HAI prevention guidelines, and infection control resources that underpin accreditation standards. The CDC Core IPC Practices were formally incorporated into JC standards in 2024.
OSHA enforces workplace safety standards across all industries, with specific requirements for bloodborne pathogens, respiratory protection, hazard communication, and emergency action plans in healthcare settings.
CMS administers Medicare and Medicaid and establishes the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) that hospitals must meet. CMS surveys are conducted by state agencies and delegated to CMS-approved accrediting organizations.
EPA regulates hazardous waste, environmental contaminants, air and water quality standards, and disinfectant registrations. Healthcare facilities must comply with EPA regulations governing medical waste and chemical handling.
NIOSH conducts occupational research, sets recommended exposure limits, certifies respirators, and publishes guidance documents for workplace hazard control, essential for industrial hygiene and respiratory protection programs.
AHRQ funds and publishes patient safety and quality improvement research, including HAI prevention toolkits, safety culture assessments, and evidence-based implementation guides for healthcare organizations.
Oncore’s team translates regulatory requirements into practical, site-specific action, from mock surveys and gap analyses to staff training and custom compliance programs.