America’s hospitals and health systems are focusing more on renovation or expansion than new construction, according to a new survey conducted by Health Facilities Management magazine and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE). In fact, renovation or expansion accounted for 73 percent of construction projects at hospitals responding to the survey.
Renovation and expansion is a great thing for hospitals however, an article published by Engineered Systems, Judene Bartley, MS, MPH, CIC, states that patients can leave the hospital sicker than they arrived if construction crews don’t use established precautions to controls infection during new construction or major renovations.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends comprehensive preventive actions using an Infection Control and Risk Assessment (ICRA) before beginning this process.
Can dust and dirt carry bacteria and mold into patient areas during minor and major construction and lead to infection? The answer is yes. Patients can and have been infected with numerous infectious agents leading to sickness and even death. The infections were a result of inadvertent exposure to fungi or mold released for example from contaminated ceiling tiles, fireproofing insulation and contaminated HVAC systems.
Infection control is one of the most important challenges facing healthcare. Understanding the IRCA and hospital expectations for infection prevention from the environment should help HVAC engineers in planning and installing guidelines before such projects begin.
Pure Air Control Services, Inc. provides support services to all hospitals across the nation during the (IRCA), construction initial planning, as well as testing and monitoring during the construction phase(s). For more information regarding our planning, consulting, assessment and testing services, please call 1-800-422-7873 ext. 602.
About Pure Air Control Services:
Pure Air Control Services, Inc. was founded in 1984 as a small mechanical contracting firm and today sets the industry standard for indoor environmental quality diagnosis and remediation. Pure Air has serviced more than 600 million square feet of indoor environments in over 10,000 facilities.
Pure Air Control Services nationally performed environmental services include: Building Sciences Evaluation; Building Health Check; an AIHA accredited Environmental Microbiology Laboratory; Environmental Project Management; and HVAC/Mold Remediation Services, HVAC Restoration Services, among other indoor environmental services.
For more information on Pure Air Service Services, Inc., please call (800) 422-7873 x802, or visit www.pureaircontrols.com.
