Cases of Legionaires’ Disease as well as hospital readmission rates for the elderly continue to rise. As a result, water-quality specific directives and regulations are increasing in an effort to help manage risk and reduce the probability for potentially deadly outbreaks. A recent directive issued by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services could make non-reimbursement a reality if a healthcare facility does not have an up-to-date Water Management Plan.
While it is important to be compliant with the latest laws and regulations, the focal point of any effective Water Management Plan should put patient safety first.
Minimize risk by treating your water systems as you do your patients.
At Watertech, we share your facility’s top priority– protect the patients. Not only do we provide cost savings opportunities in your steam production and HVAC cooling systems, we work hand in hand with the Infection Control and Engineering departments to make sure all domestic water is safe for ingestion.
Like a Physician or a Nurse who assesses a patient, our goal when we perform a site survey is to assess the current state of water quality and management process, perform a diagnosis of any potential problems or risk factors, and outline a plan to treat and manage those troublesome areas and “symptoms.”
Understanding your system and having a site-specific plan to manage potential hazards will give you peace of mind that your patients are protected from waterborne pathogens.
Steps to a (CMS, ASHRAE, NSF, CDC) compliant Water Management Plan
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Establish a team to manage water quality
- Outline and diagram your buildings’ water systems
- Identify all high-risk sources including dialysis water, ice machines, hydrotherapy pools, medical equipment, cooling towers and condensers
- Establish control measures and how to monitor them including: Regular testing, consistent maintenance and treatment for cooling towers and condensers to prevent microbial activity, water disinfection and point-of-use filtration on tap and shower heads
- Have a remediation strategy for anything out-of-range
- Schedule regular reviews to ensure the WMP is being implemented correctly
- Document all activities
Still haven’t put together your Water Management Plan? Watertech can help.
It may seem like an intimidating task to create the Water Management Plan on your own. Watertech can help to make the process easier and more manageable for you by performing the site survey, identifying the areas of high risk, establishing the critical control measures and corrective actions, and assembling the document.
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HEALTHCARE HEADLINES
“Compliance with this Standard is voluntary until and unless a legal jurisdiction makes compliance mandatory through legislation.” ASHRAE
“Healthcare facilities are expected to comply with CMS requirements to protect the health and safety of its patients. Those facilities unable to demonstrate measures to minimize the risk of LD are at risk of citation for non-compliance with the CMS Conditions of Participation.”
Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
“Health care facilities may put people at risk for LD when they do not have an effective Water Management Program.”
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
“NSF 444 seeks to provide a methodology for the systematic analysis of building water systems and the application control measures necessary to prevent harm and to maintain public health.”
NSF
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