Checklist

ASHRAE releases Legionellosis standard for public review

www.ashrae.org/standards-research--technology/public-review-drafts

A fourth version of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) proposed legionellosis standard recently was released for public comment until Nov. 10. Standard 188P, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems, currently under development, will establish minimum legionellosis risk management requirements for building water systems. The standard is intended for use by building owners and managers as well as those involved in the design, construction, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and service of centralized building water systems and components. Changes to the proposed standard since its last public review in January 2013 include a normative appendix for health care facilities.

CMS offers categorical waiver related to power strips

www.ashe.org/resources/ashenews/issuebriefs/2014/issue_brief_140929.html

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is permitting a categorical waiver related to hospital power strip requirements under certain circumstances, the agency recently announced. The waiver allows hospitals to adhere to the 2012 power strip requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) instead of the NFPA's 1999 standards. Hospitals can use the waiver if they are in compliance with all applicable power strip requirements contained in the 2012 edition of the NFPA's Life Safety Code (LSC) and all electrical system and equipment provisions in the 2000 edition of the NFPA's LSC.

FDA unveils inspection, compliance and recall dashboard

http://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2014/10/new-data-dashboard-tool-shares-fdas-inspection-compliance-and-recall-data

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently unveiled a new online dashboard tool designed to provide insight into the agency's compliance, inspection and recall activities. It provides information in graphical form while also allowing interested parties to access the underlying data. The FDA previously provided such information in a spreadsheet format.

Joint Commission lists difficult compliance issues

www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/23/jconline_September_24_14.pdf

The Joint Commission in a recent Joint Commission Online newsletter posted an article and table identifying the five Joint Commission requirements that most frequently were identified as noncompliant for the first half of 2014 for accredited organizations and certified programs. Three of the top five issues cited for both hospitals and critical access hospitals concerned utility system risks; fire safety equipment and building features; and maintaining a safe, functional environment. The other two issues for both types of hospitals concerned life safety and infection control.

AAMI names members' top medical device challenges

www.aami.org/publications/BIT/2014/BIT_SO_MedicalChallenges.pdf

The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation published a survey in the September/October issue of Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology journal listing the top 10 medical device challenges facing its members. They are: managing devices and systems on the information technology network, integrating data into electronic health records, infusion pump systems, cybersecurity of devices and systems, device-incident reporting and investigations, managing recalls, spectrum and wireless management, battery management, endoscope management and nonhospital-owned devices brought in by patients.