Joint Commission issues clarifications for life, fire safety standards

Joint Commission issues clarifications for Life Safety Code requirements

The Joint Commission issued clarifications for four Life Safety and Environment of Care Elements of Performance. The clarifications were issued to help accredited health care organizations comply with the National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code requirements.

The clarifications reference emergency department occupancy classification, annual door inspections, installing and maintaining fire doors, and conducting fire drills.  

CDC advances outpatient infection prevention initiative

The Adaptation & Dissemination of Outpatient Infection Prevention (ADOPT) initiative is in its third phase. The project aims to adapt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care to specialty settings. In its third phase and with help from the Joint Commission, the CDC is focused on adapting its guidance to podiatry and orthopedic care facilities.  

Study to look at facility design’s effect on dementia patients

The University of Kansas School of Architecture, Design & Planning, Lawrence, Kan., received a grant to study how the physical layout and spatial configuration of long-term care facilities support patients with dementia.

The lead researcher on the study, Farhana Ferdous, says the study will build upon her previous research. Ferdous, who is a lecturer within the school,  previously studied three long-term care facilities in Lawrence.

“[The study] looked at how spatial configuration and design of care facilities could influence cognitively impaired people,” she explains. “There is no cure for the disease, but we can change behaviors and attitudes of the residents and caregivers. If we create a very positive environmental design, we can reduce agitation among the residents to create meaningful, positive social interaction.”

Ferdous will use the grant to expand the study to 12 facilities across the country.

NIOSH asking for public feedback on sterilant used to clean medical devices

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is seeking public comment to evaluate the scientific and technical data on occupational exposures to peracetic acid.

Peracetic acid is a peroxide-based molecule used extensively as an antimicrobial agent in many commercial applications. It is routinely used as a sterilant during the cleaning of endoscopes and other medical devices.

NIOSH is requesting information on eight different areas, including workplace exposure data for peracetic acid; possible health effects observed in workers exposed to the sterilant; and what control measures institutions use to protect workers, such as personal protective equipment.

Comments are due June 5.