The trouble with normal: Some things to consider as we ease back into recovery

By Steve MacArthur, Hospital Safety Consultant

I think we can all agree that there are a lot of stressors in motion as we navigate the unknowns of the pandemic; some of which one might not normally encounter and others are just an amped-up version of “business as usual.” As we near the end of May, it does seem like there is a little bit of movement towards a return to normalcy (recognizing that we’ve probably bid adieu to the “old” normal), which has prompted some consideration of the demands placed on our facilities’ systems and how best to position ourselves to safely engage the recovery phase of this historic emergency response.

Another point of agreement (hopefully) would be that elements relating to infection control are going to be scrutinized more than ever as the accrediting organizations get back to it. I suspect that at least part of that scrutiny will involve the overarching management of utility systems and their components. Fortunately, there is much to be learned from/shared by folks I consider to be excellent sources of information and insight.

As was the case before the onset of COVID-19, I think the management of building water systems is going to come into play and, particularly if you’ve had to reduce usage in some areas of your facility, bringing things back online represent some real challenges. Certainly, the focus on managing the risks associated with waterborne pathogens goes back more than just a few months, but the following should be enough for you to get ahead of the curve.

The first two articles, penned by Matt Freje from HCInfo, focus on some key planning/prevention considerations that, at the very least, should be a part of your planning risk assessment going forward. It’s all completely sensible and clear in direction, particularly as work towards appropriate management of environmental conditions for our most at-risk patient populations, and both articles are definitely work a look. They cover building water systems and Legionella concerns.

Finally, for this week, we have a webinar covering potential Legionella risks as we ramp our buildings up to normal speed, sponsored/presented by the good folks at the ScalingUp!H2O podcast. Lots of good information presented by Dr. Janet Stout of Special Pathogens Laboratory. There’s a slide presentation, hence its availability on YouTube, but (again) worth the 35 or so minutes of your time to check it out.

Please continue to stay safe and productive during the pandemic. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to keeping things on an even keel!

About the Author: Steve MacArthur is a safety consultant with The Greeley Company in Danvers, Mass. He brings more than 30 years of healthcare management and consulting experience to his work with hospitals, physician offices, and ambulatory care facilities across the country. He is also a contributing editor for Healthcare Safety Leader. Contact Steve at stevemacsafetyspace@gmail.com.