MHA Society for Health Care Engineers

White paper on infection control issues during hospital construction

A new white paper discussing challenges faced by hospitals during construction while trying to meet Environment of Care standards is now available online from a Massachusetts-based engineering firm.

The paper, authored by Dennis Tremblay, CFPS, a senior scientist at Needham-based EH&E, examines the process needed to comply with Joint Commission standards during hospital construction projects.

The white paper can be found online here.

[ via Accreditation Connection ]

NIOSH Introduces New Newsletter

NIOSH recently announced the inaugural issue of the National Occupational Research Agenda Construction Sector E-Newsletter. This newsletter will cover news and activities of the Construction Sector Council and other new research and events of interest to our construction stakeholders.

You can view the inaugural issue here. Sign-up for future issues here.

EPA issues emission standards for hospital sterilizers

The Environmental Protection Agency recently implemented national emissions standards for ethylene oxide sterilizers, used by some hospitals to sterilize medical devices. Contained in a final rule effective Dec. 28, the standards generally require hospital ethylene oxide sterilization facilities to sterilize full loads of items to reduce hazardous emissions.

Exceptions include when central services staff, a hospital administrator or physician on duty determine that a less than full load is medically necessary, or the sterilizer has an acceptable air pollution control device.

[ via AHA News Now ]