Healthcare facilities are potential hotspots where COVID-19 can quickly spread. To limit the spread of the infection, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 服务 (CMS) issued blanket waivers for certain 消防 and life safety inspection, testing and maintenance (ITM) requirements at healthcare facilities. 尽管有任何豁免, proper planning for 消防 and life safety ITM is a priority for healthcare facilities.
While COVID-19 has changed many aspects in healthcare facilities, properly functioning fire and life safety systems remain critical components of overall safety within a hospital. Where facilities are overdue or have taken advantage of ITM waivers, it is essential for facilities to proactively review their ITM plan to eliminate potential threats to life safety compliance.
什么是《皇家88娱乐》 & 卫生保健设施守则?
在美国, Medicare and/or Medicaid provider compliance incorporates the requirements within the 2012 editions of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101生命安全守则 LSC)和选择章节 NFPA 99卫生保健设施规范 (结束). These codes require or reference other codes and standards for various 消防 and life safety ITM requirements, such as water-based 消防 systems, 火灾报警系统, fire and smoke doors and opening protectives and smoke control systems.
远程巡检如何提供帮助?
远程检查 are an efficient and powerful tool to help conduct fire and building inspections during COVID-19 and beyond. 在大流行期间, healthcare facilities have mostly been able to move forward with critical inspection, 测试和维护工作, 支持的 远程检查 tools that enable them to happen virtually. Just like traditional on-site or in person inspections, a 远程检查 typically occurs as part of a jurisdiction’s permitting process, 项目, or contract schedule and needs to be approved by the 有管辖权的当局 (AHJ)皇家88账户注册个区域.
与此同时, a technical committee has been formed for a proposed new standard, NFPA 915, 远程检查标准. They have begun the work to create a first draft and it will be available for public comment later this year.
展望未来
生命安全规范 exist to ensure health care facilities provide the highest quality of care, which is critical for patients and institutions. Facilities can ensure they are in compliance by working with an experienced partner and conducting a 生命安全评估. This top-to-bottom review will ensure that the building and its inherent 消防 features will effectively protect people during a fire. While achieving and maintaining life safety compliance in a healthcare facility can be a daunting task during COVID, facilities need to be prepared to reduce risk, 负债和不必要的支出. 随着COVID-19协议的解除, facilities with overdue ITM will need to have a plan in place to be in compliance. They should work with experts who have experience evaluating and designing holistic 消防 生命安全ITM计划.