CMS Life Safety Code resources

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized new Conditions of Participation (CoPs) earlier this year. The new regulations will be a shift for Medicare/Medicaid participating health care facilities, which will need to comply with the 2012 editions of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, and NFPA 99, Health Care Facility Code.

ASHE is offering members guidance on how to comply with the new regulations. Visit www.ashe.org/NFPA101 to explore some of the resources, including:

• A monograph, Life Safety Code Comparison, details the requirements in the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code and compares them to the 2000 edition previously required by CMS. It also covers the 2009 editions of NFPA 101 and the International Building Code. ASHE members can download a free PDF of the monograph. Printed copies are also available ($25 for members/$35 for nonmembers).
• On-demand learning offers previously recorded webinars to members only. Several recordings deal with the recent changes, including: The 2012 edition of NFPA 101 and its impact on new facilities; The 2012 edition of NFPA 101 and its impact on existing facilities; and Reference standards in the 2012 edition of NFPA 101 and their impact on the operation of facilities.
• An ASHE webinar series discusses aspects of NFPA 101. The webinars are free to members and $125 for nonmembers. Two webinars remain in the series: Chapter 43 of NFPA 101 and its impact on health care facilities (Aug. 10); and CMS adoption of the 2012 edition of NFPA 99 and what it means for health care facilities (Sept. 15).
• Two online educational programs explain the new regulations. The online programs, which allow you to complete the learning at your own pace while earning continuing education units, include: Application of NFPA 99 in Health Care Facilities ($325 for members, $425 for nonmembers); and Managing Life Safety ($325 for members, $375 for nonmembers).
• ASHE offers hosted and custom programs focused on the 2012 editions of NFPA 101 and NFPA 99. These programs allow health care organizations, private companies, government and military groups and ASHE-affiliated chapters to bring high-quality ASHE programming directly to employees and team members.
• This year’s ASHE Annual Conference, on July 10–13 in Denver, features multiple sessions on the changes, including: CMS and the 2012 Life Safety Code: Plan your compliance strategy; CMS adoption of ASHRAE 170-2008; NFPA 101: Chapter 43, Building Rehabilitation; Taking a closer look at the physical environment; and Important changes to the referenced codes of NFPA 101 and NFPA 99.

ASHE INSIGHTS

Important monographs available from ASHE

Following are two recently released monographs that can be accessed by ASHE members as free PDFs at www.ashe.org/resourcelibrary.

• HCAHPS Scores, the Patient Experience, and the Affordable Care Act from the Facility Perspective. This new ASHE monograph explores how the health care physical environment and facility professionals can improve patient satisfaction scores.

• Risk Assessment of Medical Equipment. A key part of the Joint Commission’s environment of care management plans, risk assessments of medical equipment are covered in this new ASHE monograph. It presents a framework for facilities professionals to follow.

Design guidelines available to industry through ASHE

The 2014 editions of the Facility Guidelines Institute’s Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities and the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities can be purchased at www.ASHEstore.com.