During the period dubbed “The Great Resignation,” millions of U.S. workers quit their jobs, including more than 145,000 healthcare professionals, according to a report from Definitive Healthcare. 

Historically, we generally don’t spend much time in the realm of the management of medical equipment, but when one of the primary shot-callers in the accreditation world brings attention it in the ambulatory care patient environment, it makes sense to share this information. And, taking into consideration the “carryover” of these into the realm of utility systems equipment, all the more reason to chat about some of the particulars. Truly, when it comes to equipment in the healthcare environment, particularly in ambulatory settings, it’s really tough to separate responsibilities, etc.

OSHA addresses fire safety under the General Industry Standards (29CFR1910). Facilities under construction should consult the edition of the of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) Life Safety Code adopted by your regulating agency for more detailed information.

Though they can’t be seen, there are hundreds of tiny organisms living in blood and other body fluids that can cause disease in humans. These are called “bloodborne pathogens.” Some of these organisms are harmless and can be handled easily by the body’s immune system, but others can cause severe illness, such as hepatitis or AIDS.

Safety concerns and potential for erroneous errors have made the Waived Testing (WT) chapter a common area of focus for surveyors during patient tracers. Surveyors will observe staff while performing waived testing and ask them questions about training and competency. Therefore, you will want your staff who perform waived testing to be comfortable and confident while answering questions.

It comes with the territory of being the safety officer that you are responsible to make sure holiday decorations do not affect the overall safety of your facility. The Life Safety Code^®, which CMS and other deeming authorities observe, generally prohibits combustible decorations in hospitals, nursing homes, and ambulatory surgery centers. Even if your practice is not subject to that regulation, it makes sense to be careful with items that could cause a fire event in your facility.