How to Maximize the Value of Your Joint Commission Mock Surveys

  |  April 25, 2023

A mock survey can be an invaluable preparation tool for healthcare facility and environmental health and safety (EH&S) managers as they prepare for Joint Commission triennial accreditation surveys or other certification reviews. By allowing an expert with a fresh set of eyes to audit your facility, it becomes much easier to identify and close any...
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Prepare for Updated Standards by Improving Your EtO Management Plan

  |  April 13, 2023

Ethylene oxide (EtO) plays a critical role in manufacturing and medical device sterilization. However, this antimicrobial pesticide is also a carcinogenic agent that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers to be more dangerous over long-term exposures than was recognized in the past. As a result, EPA recently proposed revisions to its National Emission Standards...
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Sustainability in Healthcare Industry Update: New Developments and Your Hospital

  |  April 12, 2023

Several sustainability developments important for hospitals and other healthcare organizations occurred in March: March 9, 2023, The White House and Department of Health and Human Services (WH/HHS) announced reopening of the Health Sector Climate Pledge to new signatories on an ongoing basis after its successful launch last year. March 20, 2023, the Intergovernmental Panel on...
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Mitigating Legionella with a targeted response

  |  November 23, 2022

When faced with a possible infection risk from Legionella colonization within a hospital water system, many health care systems take broad, buildingwide actions to stop the risk before it spreads, and they will continue to repeat those same actions without understanding the root cause. Common recommendations are to periodically add chlorine disinfectant (either low-level or...
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Evaluating Waterborne Pathogen Risks for a Stronger Water Management Plan

  |  April 21, 2022

Having an effective water management program has proven critical for minimizing patient exposure to a wide range of dangerous waterborne pathogens. In fact, one CDC study found that approximately 21% of HAIs can be transmitted via water. However, many hospitals have struggled with the development and implementation of a comprehensive water management program. Pathogens include...
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Air Tracing Studies: A Simple Strategy to Assess Infection Pathways

  |  February 10, 2022

Preventing hospital acquired infections remains an ongoing battle for many healthcare infection prevention and facilities management teams. Fortunately, new tools and strategies continue to emerge to help experts address potential infection risks. One such tool is an air tracing study, which identifies the pathways that infectious organisms can travel from their source to a compromised...
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Boston’s healthcare greenhouse gas emissions cut by 18% in 9 years despite growth

  |  September 14, 2021

The United States is the world’s highest emitter of healthcare greenhouse gases (GHG), accounting for 27% of the global healthcare footprint.1 Climate change impacts a wide range of health outcomes from asthma and cardiovascular disease to malnutrition and heat-related illness and deaths.2 Healthcare has the opportunity, and obligation, to promote the health of the community...
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