How do we know that hospitals are safe?


July 06, 2017

SETRA BLOG: How do we know that hospitals are safe?医院和门诊设施满足全球社区的迫切需求。它们为病人提供紧急护理,但我们也依赖它们作为治疗传染病和保证公众安全的安全区。But how can we know for certainthat a hospital is clean and safe, and that we won’t get sick from something another ill patient has carried in?

We rely on the hospital’s building maintenance and clinical staff to have proper procedures in place to keep the general public safe. How do we know they are doing a good job? We know thanks to two organizations:The Joint Commission (TJC)and theCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The Joint Commission

该委员会是一个独立的、非营利性的认证组织,负责检查医院,以确保建筑的安全和妥善维护。该公司遵循完善和详细的标准,称为环境保护,指导操作和维护,以支持强大的建筑性能。

The six EC categories TJC inspects are safety, security, hazardous materials, fire safety, medical equipment,and utilities. Inspections take place every two or three years, where TJC personnel can be on-site for several days. Every hospital wants to pass inspections because their license to treat patients depends on successfully passing.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

CMS is the federal government’s organization that oversees hospitals in a similar way. CMS has inspectors too, but they also use TJC as a “deemed authority” to help cover all the hospitals in the United States. CMS inspects using standards calledConditions of Participation (CoP),which also look at health and safety. CMS’s prime motivation is the licensing of hospitals to treat Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Hence, there are two US organizations that keep us safe in hospitals using rigorous standards. A component of this health and safety isproper room pressurization where applicablein the healthcare setting. Ensuring proper room pressure with a reliable and accurate system can set a hospital at ease when TJC or CMS inspectors are on-site.

CLICK HEREto learn why a common instrument found in medical facilities may not be adequate anymore.

Topics:Critical Environments,HVAC/R