Learn more about hand-gel regulations
Accreditation Connection, November 12, 2004
An amendment to the 2000 and 2003 editions of the Life Safety Code says healthcare facilities under Chapters 18 and 19 may install alcohol-based hand-gel dispensers in exit corridors and other areas provided the facilities meet the following conditions. This is important, because improving hand-hygiene is part of the JCAHO's National Patient Safety Goals:
* The corridors must be at least 6 ft wide
* There must be at least 4 ft between dispensers
* The maximum capacity for dispensers is 1.2 L (0.317 gal) for those in rooms, corridors, and areas open to corridors; that amount increases to 2 L (0.528 gal) for dispensers in suites
* Dispensers aren't installed over or directly adjacent to electrical outlets and switches
* Dispensers can only be installed over carpeted floors in smoke compartments protected by sprinklers
* Each smoke compartment may contain a cumulative 37.85 L (10 gal) of hand-gel solution in dispensers and a maximum of 18.92 L (5 gal) in storage
Authorities are not bound by this amendment unless they specifically adopt it. The JCAHO is already on board with the amendment, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is expected to recognize it soon.
Related Products
-
Briefings on The Joint Commission
Briefings on The Joint Commission will help you with all of your accreditation and survey preparation needs. Every month...
-
The Joint Commission Mock Tracer Made Simple
This updated edition of our annual best-seller includes new tools and case studies of successful tracers from facilities...
-
Staffing Effectiveness Data:
You've spent an enormous amount of time, money, and effort collecting staffing effectiveness data - and you can still put it...
-
Simplifying Nursing Documentation
Implement a "two-form" solution that will cut nursing documentation in half while fully complying with Joint Commission...
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- HIPAA Q&A: Level of encryption needed for email
- HIPAA Q&A: TPO disclosures to a business associate
- Q&A: Acute respiratory failure diagnosis does not require intubation
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- Q/A: Coding infusions to correct low potassium levels
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- Capturing all necessary codes for IUD insertion and removal can be challenging
- Topic: CMS, OESS post new security compliance review information, checklist
- News and briefs: Oklahoma Osteopathic Association against residency bill change
- OB services: Coding inside and outside of the package
- E-mailed
-
- HIPAA Q&A: Level of encryption needed for email
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- Q&A: Acute respiratory failure diagnosis does not require intubation
- Q/A: Coding infusions to correct low potassium levels
- Oxygen Cylinder Storage Requirements
- CMS has reformulated payments for some bilateral procedures
- Q/A: New code for image-guided minimally invasive lumbar decompression
- Understand the spine to code back procedures correctly
- Cut through the confusion related to different kinds of wound debridements
- Cohesive History and Physical Requirements
- Searched