Safety

Tip of the week: Get a head start on annual EC reviews

Hospital Safety Connection, October 21, 2009

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EC.04.01.01 requires hospitals to monitor the environment of care by collecting information, which makes this standard an important one in terms of annual reviews as we near the end of the year.
 
EC.04.01.01 broadly mandates that facilities monitor, report, and investigate the following:
  • Injuries to patients and others in the building
  • Occupational injuries and illnesses to staff members
  • Property damage
  • Security incidents involving patients, staff members, or others in the building
  • Hazardous materials and waste spills and exposures
  • Fire safety deficiencies
  • Medical and laboratory equipment problems
  • Utility problems
The Joint Commission references leadership standard LD.04.04.05, element of performance 11, for these bulleted items, meaning hospital administrators assume some responsibility for seeing these provisions are carried out.
 
EC.04.01.01 also contains the requirement that hospitals annually evaluate each of the six EC management plans noted in EC.01.01.01.



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