The Joint Commission and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering have updated the physical environment portal with two new resources to help facilities stay in compliance with Standard EC.02.05.01, Utility Systems, according to the Joint Commission website.
One resource addresses hospital leaders and what they can do to make sure air ventilation systems are not putting patients at risk and how to design and install utility systems.
It also includes a test, guides leaders on necessary steps during a Joint Commission survey and includes an evaluation of compliance.
Another resource addresses the clinical impact of utility systems. The Joint Commission said that studies have shown a relationship between air changes per hour and infection disease transmission. The resource also provides a standard utility system scoring analysis the Joint Commission uses during surveys.
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