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Learn Life Safety Code tips and interpretations for healthcare facilities with this in-depth monthly resource.

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Healthcare Life Safety Compliance

Issue 12, December 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Proposed regulation will require sprinkler systems in nursing homes

  Nursing homes across the country will need to install automatic sprinkler systems throughout their...

• Six good reasons to use the JCAHO's building maintenance program

  With the coming switchover to electronic submissions of Parts 2 and 4 of the Statement of...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Jennifer Frecker and James K. Lathrop of the fire protection consulting firm Koffel...

Issue 11, November 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• The JCAHO extends an important electronic SOC provision to July 1

  But January 1 deadline still holds for some items The JCAHO's partial extension of its deadline...

• Life Safety Code® influences where to locate your HIPAA document bins

  The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) has tentacles that stretch...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Jennifer Frecker and James Lathrop of the fire protection consulting firm Koffel...

Issue 10, October 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• To decrease alarms, educate your contractors and staff about causes

  Any facility that has dealt with burnt microwave popcorn in the employee lounge won't be surprised...

• Steer clear of familiar fire safety problems with these six pointers

  Among the most useful information for readers of HLSC comes from actual JCAHO survey experiences in...

• Initial designs influence smoke control system tests

  Each month in this column, the staff at Koffel Associates, Inc., in Elkridge, MD, explain fire...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Diana Hugue and James Lathrop of fire protection consulting firm Koffel Associates...

Issue 9, September 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• ASHE may push for an extension of a looming electronic SOC date

  In a potentially significant development, the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE...

• With renovations, know your fire safety risks and try these solutions

  In an industry in which renovations are constant and there is a spate of new construction, it comes...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Diana Hugue and James K. Lathrop of the fire protection consulting firm Koffel...

Issue 8, August 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Learn about one hospital's method to track the causes of its false alarms

  The battle to eliminate false alarms not only carries financial implications, but may tip the...

• Score cards can detail items within building maintenance programs

  If you choose to use a building maintenance program as allowed under the Statement of Conditions...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Diana Hugue and James Lathrop of fire protection consulting firm Koffel Associates...

Issue 7, July 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Little-known JCAHO decision rule carries a big punch for fire safety

  An overlooked accreditation provision known as CON04 hfolds a surprising amount of power for...

• JCAHO engineer: Send me letters about electronic SOC concerns

  A representative from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has...

• NFPA: Cooking fires remain a top threat in healthcare

  Although not necessarily a surprise, the NFPA's latest statistics on fire origins in hospitals and...

• Hand gel risks surface once again after a flash fire

  A high-placed warning about the fire risks of alcohol-based hand gels has raised questions about...

• Watch your kitchen fire suppression items and grease

  Each month in this column, the staff at Koffel Associates, Inc., in Ellicott City, MD, explain fire...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Diana Hugue and James Lathrop of fire protection consulting firm Koffel Associates...

Issue 6, June 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Tips on selecting fire extinguishers for specialized healthcare settings

  Healthcare facilities like to offer the classic A:B:C portable fire extinguisher for staff use...

• JCAHO official provides how-to advice on protecting barrier holes

  Once again, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is reminding...

• Ambulatory and business occupancies enjoy tradeoffs

  Editor's note: In the previous HLSC, we looked at the advantages that the Life Safety Code® (LSC...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Jennifer Frecker and James K. Lathrop of the fire protection consulting firm Koffel...

Issue 5, May 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Fourteen advantages that hospitals and nursing homes can draw on

  The topic of full sprinkler coverage comes up frequently in these pages, whether we're discussing...

• One facility's work helps the fire department and improves efficiency

  A Massachusetts hospital has taken the rare step of not only establishing a wireless fire alarm...

• Questions& Answers

  Each month, Jennifer Frecker and James Lathrop of fire protection consulting firm Koffel...

Issue 4, April 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Here’s how the JCAHO’s would-be generator test might affect you

  In proposing a new annual generator test, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare...

• Ideas about how to better avoid and respond to JCAHO citations

  In the first half of 2005, 19% of surveyed hospitals received a requirement for improvement under...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Jennifer Frecker and James Lathrop of fire protection consulting firm Koffel...

Issue 3, March 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• The JCAHO explains a vague hand-gel limit after a confusing false start

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) puzzled facilities for a...

• Tips on ’hefting’ fire extinguishers during monthly visual inspections

  Every portable fire extinguisher in your facility must receive a monthly "quick check" to ensure...

• Smoke alarm deadline looms for long-term care

  Nursing homes that don’t have sprinkler protection only have until May 24 before inspectors...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Jennifer Frecker and James Lathrop of fire protection consulting firm Koffel...

Issue 2, February 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS and the JCAHO expect to see corridor door roller latches gone

  Three years ago, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that healthcare...

• Two more resident deaths expose alleged flaws

  The deaths of two residents after a fire at their nursing home point out three important areas for...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Jennifer Frecker and James Lathrop of fire protection consulting firm Koffel...

Issue 1, January 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Existing PFI items may become big hassles with electronic SOC entries

  We’ve begun a yearlong countdown to mandatory electronic Statement of Conditions ( SOC...

• Small fire reinforces hospital staff confidence in their response plan

  Although drills are excellent training tools, healthcare facilities never truly know how staff will...

• Questions & Answers

  Each month, Jennifer Frecker and James Lathrop of fire protection consulting firm Koffel...