Striking compliance gold – but first, you gotta drill…

I promise that this one will be on the briefer side of things, but sometimes a straightforward approach can work out pretty well.

As part of a general integration of elements and requirements outlined in NFPA 99-2012, the good folks in Chicago (and, no doubt, elsewhere) are establishing two additional elements relating to fire drills – an annual fire drill in anesthetizing locations (doesn’t have to be unannounced, but if you do announce it, then it can’t count towards the regular slate of quarterly fire drills) and an annual fire/evacuation drill for any hyperbaric oxygen settings you might have.

I don’t know that, as a “new” requirement, this isn’t something you’ve already been doing (I know certain accreditation organizations have been asking about them for a while), particularly those of you who’ve spent quality time with Chapters 14 (Hyperbaric Facilities) and 15 (Features of Fire Protection) in NFPA 99.

Chapter 14 is pretty specific in terms of which environment is in the mix, but Chapter 15 is kind of wide-ranging and probably worth looking over if you haven’t yet done so. Recognizing the desire/design to generate more findings in the physical environment and the clear indication that the outpatient settings are going to be in play to a greater extent, it is important to keep in mind that NFPA 99 does not just apply to hospitals, but to “health care facilities,” of which outpatient care settings are certainly included. The only question is how deep a dive can be managed during a survey visit…

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 the author of HCPro's Hospital Safety Director's Handbook and is contributing editor for Healthcare Safety Leader. Contact Steve at stevemacsafetyspace@gmail.com.