The 2014 FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities are undergoing final reviews and will be available January 2014. Recently, the topic of preventing infection through design, material selection and modified building practices has been of partic

An Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) is an essential step in limiting the acquisition and transmission of infections in a healthcare environment. According to The Joint Commission, an ICRA needs to be conducted when significant changes in the environment, community or patient p

The first step in determining whether there are industrial hygiene risks in your workplace is to have an experienced industrial hygienist conduct a qualitative risk assessment. They will take into account everything from the building ventilation to the workflow and products manufactur

What is MRSA Infection? Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by an antibiotic-resistant strain of staph. This most common type of this infection is known as healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA), which can be contracted in hospitals and other healthcar

In today’s healthcare reality, there is improved sanitation and public health, greater access to preventative care and vaccinations, and increased life expectancy for patients. New technology and more intensive care units also mean that healthcare facilities are able to treat pa

We all look forward to enjoying newly improved facilities after construction and renovation. But before the work can begin, we must consider how it will affect building occupants, especially when it comes to their health and safety. One of the biggest risks construction and renovation