Which departments play key roles in the Environment of Care?

• A. Nursing, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Imaging.
• B. Environmental services, Facilities maintenance and engineering, Grounds, Security, Risk and Quality Management.
• C. Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Legal.
• D. Information Technology, Communications, Public Relations, Dietetics.

Answer: (B)

Environment of Care centers on maintaining a safe, functional physical environment in the hospital—fire and life-safety systems, building infrastructure, safety, and security. The departments listed here cover the areas most directly responsible for those elements: Environmental services handles cleaning, disinfection, waste management, and infection control; Facilities maintenance and engineering maintains the building systems, electrical and mechanical infrastructure, and life-safety features; Grounds oversees outdoor safety and the facility surroundings; Security provides access control, safety of people and property, and incident response; Risk and Quality Management coordinates safety programs, incident reporting, risk assessments, and quality improvement. Together, they address the physical environment, safety, and readiness needed for safe patient care and regulatory compliance. Other groups like clinical departments, marketing, finance, HR, legal, or IT support operations but do not oversee the core environmental safety systems.