What Are Disposition Tools — and Why They Matter for Accreditation 360

When the Joint Commission’s Accreditation 360 takes effect on January 1, 2026, hospitals will see new terminology, new standard numbers, and a major consolidation of chapters. But one of the most important — and under-discussed — resources available today is the Disposition Report, sometimes called a disposition tool.

If the Physical Environment (PE) and National Performance Goals (NPG) chapters are the new framework, the Disposition Report is the map that tells you how to get there.

What the Disposition Tool Is

The Disposition Report is an official cross-reference document released by the Joint Commission as part of its Accreditation 360 pre-publication library. It shows exactly what happened to every current standard and element of performance (EP) from the 2025 manual as they transition into the new 2026 format.

Each row in the report identifies:

• The old standard and EP (for example, EC.02.03.05, EP 3)
• The disposition of that requirement — such as moved, deleted, split, or revised
• The new standard location (for example, PE.03.11, EP 3)
• A brief explanation of the change

In short, it’s a Rosetta Stone for translating old EC/LS content into the new PE and NPG structures.

What the Terms Mean

When reviewing the report, you’ll see four common disposition types:

• Moved — The EP still exists but has been relocated (for example, an Environment of Care requirement now appears under Physical Environment).
• Revised — The EP has been updated or clarified for consistency and alignment with CMS Conditions of Participation (CoPs).
• Split — The content was divided into multiple new standards (for example, leadership and safety components now live in different chapters).
• Deleted — The EP was removed, often because it was redundant, covered elsewhere, or not required by code or CoPs.

As Jim Grana, Field Director at the Joint Commission, explained: “If it wasn’t required by code or the State Operations Manual, and it was redundant or already captured in another standard, it was deleted. But most were moved or revised rather than eliminated.”

Why It Matters

For anyone responsible for compliance, documentation, or survey readiness, the Disposition Report is your starting point for mapping old processes to new ones. It allows you to:

• See where your existing EC and LS policies now belong
• Identify redundant documentation you can retire
• Understand what truly changed — and what didn’t

It’s also the fastest way to identify where to update internal manuals, references, and CMMS field labels so that staff aren’t quoting outdated EC standards after January 2026.

Grana describes it as “the cheat sheet before the test.”

“If you’re familiar with the old standards and just want to know where everything went, the Disposition Report is the place to start,” he said. “It’s about 300 pages, but it’s your roadmap.”

How to Use It

1. Download the Report – It’s available publicly on the Joint Commission’s Accreditation 360 resource page under Pre-Publication Materials.
2. Search by Standard or Keyword – Use Ctrl + F to find specific EC or LS standards and see where they land under PE or NPG.
3. Cross-Reference Internal Policies – Match each old EP to your department’s corresponding documentation, procedures, or logs.
4. Mark Deleted or Revised EPs – If an EP has been deleted or merged, update your policy manuals accordingly — and document your rationale for survey readiness.
5. Share with Leadership – The Disposition Report provides a high-level view for executives who want assurance that compliance efforts are mapped to the new framework.

How It Differs from Other Tools

The Disposition Report is often used alongside two other key resources:

• The Survey Process Guide — the 600-page “how” of survey execution.
• The Crosswalk Compare Report — which aligns the new PE/NPG standards with CMS CoPs.

While those tools explain the process, the Disposition Report explains the translation — what changed and where to find it.

The Bottom Line

The Disposition Report is not a compliance checklist — it’s a navigation tool. It helps hospitals understand where each requirement fits in the new Accreditation 360 landscape and eliminates guesswork about what has changed.

For facilities leaders, safety officers, and accreditation teams, it’s the single most efficient way to turn uncertainty into clarity.

“The standards are changing,” said Grana, “but the process isn’t. The Disposition Report just helps you find your way through the new numbering system.”

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